We begin our story near the settlement of Aaminiut, where for some reason, each of you find yourselves, whether you live here, came alone, or traveled together...
Character Introductions:
When introducing yourselves in your opening post, choose one or more Intro Questions below to answer (first spoiler). Then, at your option, please post your Proficiency and Modifier (plus any relevant Skill Feats) in the following skills that represent your Background Knowledge (second spoiler):
Q) Are you from Aaminiut? If not, what are you doing here? Describe your (long) journey here!
Q) Are you more of an outdoorsy type or city slicker? What skills do you bring to the table? How did you learn them?
Q) How well do you work within a team? Are you a leader, or follower, or both? What skills do you possess that support others?
Aaminiut Lore
Arcana
Dragon Lore
Erutaki Lore
Merchant Lore
Nature
Sailing Lore
Tundra Lore
Ulfen Lore
If you haven't already, please proceed to Discussion to complete the Check In.
Finally, without further ado, let us now hunt down
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Snoslun clears his throat of any "Snos" and proclaims:
Which way is Aaminiut! I came all the way over here from Qadira to learn armor-making techniques from the Erutaki! We in Qadira go about things a little differently.
By Tanagaar's will I made it here safe and sound. I'm looking forward to a cozy bed and a fine meal of meat so tender it falls from the bone.
Snoslun licks his lips intently..so excited he can barely contain himself!
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A man dressed in the clothes from the dry deserts of the south, seems strangely out of place in the Crown of the World. However caravans need protecting with their precious cargoes bound for Tian Xai. What Jac had not realised was the caravans can be bought out from the intended journey and their guards replaced. Even after the months of travel, beating back bandits and then moving through other lands with strange, wonderous and dangerous reptiles he is left here. Aaminiut a cold and wet town, a place so alien to a man that spent his youth scraping by in Katheer, begging for scraps and pocketing anything that slipped from merchants or the wealthy's pockets.
So here he is in the cold north, in need of gold and with nothing but his connections to the Pathfinders and hopefully their networks that come even this far north. His fingers cold, too cold to dip into deep pockets to retrieve some trinket. Instead, he will have to use his fighting abilities once more to help him through and survive. Surviving is what he does best.
Entering the Inn, he surveys the Erutaki and Ulfen, only to be surprised to see a small man, no dwarf, wearing the style from Quadira. The man nimbly wanders over, and introduces himself. "People call me Jacknife, from Katheer. Do you mind?" he asks as he nestles himself on the seat opposite the dwarf.
Library Lore
Qadiran Lore
Pickpocket(Thievery)
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Please sit Mr. Knife...Nice to meet someone from Katheer!. Havent been back there in quite sometime...say speaking of knives! I once crafted one for a Genie. I handed it to her and told her I was smitten...She threw it at me!...Thats how I got this scar on my knee...That was when I learned that Dwarf and Genie dont necessairily mix..hahaha!..Ahh the trials of youth.
Let me order you a drink Mr. Knife!
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A young woman with luxious and thick black hair enters into the room. Her dresses and her skirts make for a beautiful cascade of colors, reds and yellows and purples and greens. On her fingers she has castanets and the heels of her boots are very thick. On her back is a guitar and her green eyes shine with excitement and wonder. Her upper body is covered in a colorful shawl.
She looks around and in a very thick Varisian accent My name is Dulcinea Valencia. I am happy to get to know you all. as she stamps her foot in a little beat.
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Immediately after disembarking, Ysoldt looks over the rooftops of Aaminiut. Smoke rises from the chimneys and mixes with the snowflakes falling in the opposite direction. She lets out a heavy sigh and readjusts her hood and backpack. She moves through the docks, thinking about the last time she saw her own breath.
"Damn Benarry and her persuasive wit.", she ponders as she walks in the snow. "A quick trip up north.", she said - "It will remind you of where you came from.", she said..
Ysoldt realises she is talking instead of thinking and stops herself to look around. Seeing snow again -is- pleasant, though tainted with bad memories. She takes a deep breath and stops frowning. Effortlessly maintaining balance on the ice and frozen soil, she makes haste to the meeting place.
She finally opens the door and walks inside to find three people already waiting. "Hey there...", she greets everyone as she puts down her backpack and hangs her fur coat. It's not anything fancy, but it's functional. Most of her clothes have similar qualities. Her hair is ash blonde and cut short. Despite her apparent mood, she somehow still radiates playfulness and confidence. Her shirt is covered with a leather vest. A sling is stuck behind her belt and a dagger sheath is strapped to her shin. "... I'm Ysoldt. We're here together on business, I believe?”
She sits down and rubs her hands together to heat them up. "What a lovely snow-covered place this is... I hate it already.", she smiles and listens in.
Lore: Circus and a little Occultism.
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Jacknife winces with every sip of the ale, too dark, too strong, too much bitterness, just like this place and it's weather. Despite that he nods in appreciation for Snoslun's generosity. Keeping his intimate knowledge of the back alleys and the market places in Katheer, Jac is happy to talk of the sun and the blue skies, he misses so much.
However when more companions appear, Jac is quite happy to let the other three talk a while, whilst he scans the place. Too often a safe haven, or tavern as you would know it, has been horribly been violated by being descended upon by the watch or other enforcers, old habits die hard. Returning his attention to the table, he looks across at Ysoldt watching the way the woman moves, now that her large coat is removed. He follows the way her lithe body seems but stronger than her appearance and can hold the questions in no longer, "So Ysoldt, you are here because?.... I mean you carry few weapons, but don't wear a robe with sigils of magic, or carry a holy relic, so what do you bring? My friend Snoslun and I carry weapons, it seems Ducina carries a guitar, I just wondered?"
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Ysoldt's lips form a sanguine smirk when the Qadiran asks his question. She points both her index fingers towards Jacknife.
"You all look very competent. I was going for the 'another face in the crowd' impression. With that said, I will consider your question a compliment. Thank you. But - to satisfy your curiosity..."
She carefully, but with surprisingly nimble moves, unbuttons the vest pressed against her shirt. On the inside of her vest, you notice several narrow pockets sewn in, holding a set of lockpicks and various other sharp tools.
"I move quietly and unnoticed, I walk a tightrope, and I open doors that are meant to be closed. I suppose you could consider me...", she pauses very briefly. ... an infiltration specialist?”
Ysoldt buttons up her vest again as she speaks. "Let's go with that. I also have some bandages, if we happen to need them. But let's not make Misfortune make note of us by talking about her."
She leans closer and looks at everyone at the table so that you can see the candle's fire flickering in her eyes. "Don't worry about the blade I have. This is one of those cases when it actually -is- about how one uses the tool, and not merely its size.", she smiles slyly and winks, then leans back again.
"Let's put some trust in our captains and hope they sent the right people for the job, I suppose.", she shrugs and looks for a warm drink to hold.
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Dulcinea unslings her guitar and props her foot onto the seat of the chair. She slowly begins to strum her guitar so that it sounds like the boots of dwarves marching off to war as she sings a song of lovers saddened that one might not return from war.
Performance Guitar
Performance Sing
When she finishes is sits down on the chair and speaks to Shoslumn I hope that was worthy of a dwarven skald she says with a smile.
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"Oh, thank you. Do I owe you anything for this? I absolutely loathe having debts. Well, most of the time anyway.", Ysoldt smiles back at Snoslun as she points at one of the warmer mugs. She takes a whiff and a slight sip once in a while, but otherwise continues to use the container to warm up her palms and fingers.
She listens to the Varisian's song and taps her foot now and then. After the song is finished, she puts down her mug and rewards the performer with a quiet, barely audible clap. "Very nice indeed... A bit sombre for my tastes, but otherwise wonderfully performed.May I also note that your hair is beautiful. I always wanted long hair, but it just never happened. It gets in the way too often."
After she is donw clapping, she raises her mug again, takes a sip, and when she sees some colour return to her hands, she relaxes a bit in her sitting place.
As Dulcinea plays, the other patrons of the "Akkeri Norðursins" Inn - about equal parts Ulfen and Erutaki, as well a third of sailors of other various ancestry and ethnicity - turn with their mugs in hand and listen to the pleasant sounds.
When she finishes, a small round of applause meets from every corner here, as two figures walk inside amid the praise and head to the wall adjacent to the bar where different posters of different sizes hang hap-hazardly. These two figures - both human, one Ulfen and the other Erutaki - share a brief conversation pointing at this poster or that, and seem to decide to remove a couple of them, and in the place of those removed, replace with a fresh poster they had brought in with themselves.
With the performance over, a few of the patrons go to look upon this new poster, while others fold back into their chairs, and yet others seem to realize the time and square their tabs and walk back out to the adjacent bayside port...
Over the past weeks, a creature some of us have come to know as the “Whitefang Wyrm” has been spotted lurking near our settlement, stealing fish from our nets and baskets and leaving nothing but wreckage in its wake. We believe the creature’s lair is somewhere on or across the ice floes of Whitefang Bay. As this creature poses a threat to the survival of all of Aaminiut’s residents, we have prepared a sack of ivory and oosik carvings from the Erutaki and silver bracelets and armbands from the Ulfen, payable to whoever ends the creature’s attacks on our food supply. Proof of the creature’s defeat must be presented to claim this bounty.
-Elder Seshu and Bjorn the Blade
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Jac appreciates the answers from Ysoldt, "I'm sure we can work together well. Those tools are almost as finely made as mine." he smiles and winks at her. "Your abilities are no doubt more advanced then mine, but my hand has reached into the deep pockets of Katheer and not been removed. At least not yet." the man laughs. "Such gift allowed me to buy these fine weapons." he shows Ysoldt his warhammer and tightly coiled leather whip.
Leaving his wooden mug half full on the table, the tall slim man walks across the bar to see what the poster is all about. As he leaves the table, he says politely, "My friends excuse me, but if this is an offer of paid help, I need the money, my purse is rather light." He joins the group reading the poster. As he joins the group of people whose attention is taken by the poster, he attempts to take a purse hanging over a wealthy man's pocket.
He jostles closer through the crowd and reads the poster.
Reading the poster Jac smiles Out into the wilds, best get some warmer clothes and gloves to keep the cold at bay. What a god forbidden place this is, where the snow still falls even now. I just hope with what we earn, I can find a trip back south.
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Hah!...Something to do lords and ladies! Let us save this community from the Whitefang Wyrm!...I consider it my civic duty to help out wherever It is needed. We cannot stand by and let these poor folk starve in the cold...come on team let us speak with this Elder Seshu and Bjorn the Blade. Perhaps they can give us useful information? Ehh
Right behind Snoslun "Why they are right here!"
Perhaps startling the dwarf, it slowly dawns on him that those two nailing up the poster are those at the bottom to which it is signed.
"You must be new around here!" the middle-aged ulfen man with lustrous golden waves tied into a bun smiles broadly and toothily "Do you all know eachother?" he looks genuinely confused. He tucks one fist into his belly, and rests another on the hilt of a small but sturdy looking hatchet at his side.
The elder erutaki woman with radiant once-jet now-grey perfectly-straight hair neatly braided into a long ponytail that stretches nearly to her knees next to him remains silent, taking in the whole of the party as they approach. The faintest crack of a smile, the knowing look of age and experience, show subtly on her lined but handsome face. She keeps a close eye on Jac's hands...
"Well my boy, everything we know we wrote here" he points to the poster "Our fair community could use your aid!"
"Pardon my manners: Bjorn the Blade!" reaching his own hand out to meet Snoslun's with a firm and vigorous shake "This here is Seshu" she too reaches out to shake, but does so with both hands, and is exceedingly gentle "And it just so happens I am in the business of sleigh rental!" he adds enterprisingly.
Bjorn positively beams at this proclamation, while Seshu looks reserved with her same knowing smile.
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Jac moves forward to shakes hands with the two locals, "Friends, if this creature has caused you trouble, then no doubt you would want the threat neutralised, and as such it is in your interest to .. loan .. your sleighs." he smiles at Seshu. "But whether or not you loan the sleighs, we should start our quest by looking at the scene of the last of devastation. Well that is my belief." he bows his head.
Jac's negotiation attempt fails to bring Bjorn to the bargaining table in a meaningful way; he counters with what at the surface looks like an actual concession "Tell you what: I can see you want to help as well as have a shot at taking the hefty purse of 1,600 coppers for a job well completed. So, I'm be willing to rent two of my dog-pulled sleighs at 5 silver apiece, payed up front. What do you say?" rocking back in his ice-and-muddy boots, raising his left hand for effect, keeping his right hand cupped over his hatchet.
Seshu smiles back as the negotiation continues.
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Ysoldt snaaps out of observing the drink in her hand and notices her companions are missing from the table. She looks around to find them discussing something with two locals. She puts down her mug and walks over.
"Sorry, I got lost in thought for a moment. Ysoldt...", she extends her arm for a handshake; "... I'm with these fine folk. What's happening over here?"
After being introduced and clued in, she ponders the offer at hand.
"That's a pretty steep price, given that we would be after a creature pestering your community. Can we make another arrangement? Perhaps deduct an adequate amount of goods from the bounty when we return with proof?"
Before Seshu an Bjorn can respond, she confidently crosses her arms. "I'm certain you will be satisfied with the outcome."
Bjorn and Seshu gladly shake hands in much the same way.
But Ysoldt's negotiation attempt also fails to bring Bjorn to the bargaining table in a meaningful way; he counters yet again with what at the surface looks like an actual concession "Tell you what: I'll set you up with my finest dogs for each sled, and seeing as there are what, four of you? I'm willing to rent my two twin sleds together for the low and fair price of 1 gold piece for your whole company. What do you say?" he leans on one leg here, shifting, but otherwise holds the same confident and welcoming posture.
Seshu smiles and continues to watch.
The dog is super friendly, and quickly guides Dulcinea's petting to "the spot" kicking it's leg furiously in blissful pleasure.
The bard's efforts seem to yield a slight concession from the shrewd merchant, and the party gets the sense that they have reached the "last / best offer" part of the negotiation "Tell you what: I'm willing to lend the sleds as you seem a fine lot, charging only 1 silver apiece for the additional risk incurred by the proprietor, payed in full upon your return, and whether or not it is your party indeed that settles the bounty. What do you say?" shifting his weight to his other leg, he puts both hands now on his hips.
Seshu remains smiling and continues watching.
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"If we have to travel through these cold wastelands, then the quickest way the better. Let's be done here, the dogs seem a good idea. Tell them if we need the dogs, it's a deal, but first we take a close look at the site of the last kill or abduction. And we want to be the first to find and kill the wyrm, no point turning up after it's all done." he says quietly to his companions, feeling his weapons as he does.
Turning to Snoslun, Jac says in a low voice, "I don't trust them either, but its a rcae to kill the wyrm first."
Bjorn seems satisfied "I'll get suiting them up" he whistles here and all the dogs follow him back to his shop across the street.
Seshu finally speaks "Despite what Bjorn thinks, there are no other teams. People are terrified, and rightly so. Come" she shows you to the location of a nearby recent abduction site "Victim's sister here described the wyrm as having a fin running down it's spine. Come" across the street to another recent abduction site "The victim's father here swears the wyrm was actually about the same size as the harbor seals" indeed docking earlier today, the PCs remember observing these playful creature, about the same size as a typical human .
Seshu answers the PC's questions to the best of her ability, but no new information comes of it. Indeed, none in the party are able to connect the descriptions to known beasts, leaving them little to go on. She does however give the party rough directions about where to begin their sledding trek based off other witness accounts.
And shortly, Bjorn "the Blade" returns with two sleds affixed each to a small team of dogs, handing one set of reins to Jacknife and the other to Snoslun . "Take good care of them boys! We are a small village!"
And with that, Jacknife realizes that hour is late, and based off the directions Seshu gave, it would be best to leave immediately, as the party would hope to make the best of the limited daylight this far north!
Bjor and Seshu wave as the PCs depart!
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Snoslun will start by making friends with his new furry friends...He will pet each one and give it a scooby snack and a paternal talking to.
Snoslun is willing to take the reins and drive the sled.
Exploration activity: Scout... Snoslun's sled will bring up the rear, so that he can keep an eye out for danger ahead and behind. He will shout warnings at the first sign of anything or anyone dangerous.
Darkvision!
"I'll be back for that purse!" He shouts back at Bjorn and Seshu
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Jacknife will Defend the sleds and their contents, by patrolling around the sleds and dogs when the group stop. He will walk at the dogs side, when they travel at walking pace with his weapon and shield ready, otherwise he will ride holding his shortbow ready.
When they stop and the signs are that they are in a safe location, Jacknife, checks the sleds ganglines, tuglines and other parts of the harness, before checking the sleds themselves.
As darkness falls, he set a fire close to him, his torches are ready to light in the fire, if he needs to leave the light of the fire and go into the darkness
"Time to bring the wyrm's head back." he says full of confidence, although as he looks out across the frozen wastes, his mood darkens and he adds to himself Let's hope we all make it back, give me the hot desert anyday over this.
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Ysoldt runs to the local general shop. She returns with a smile on her face and walks towards the sleighs. She produces a set of candles and looks at Snoslun and Jacknife. [b"Gentlemen, if you could hoist these for a few moments, please."[/b]
She waits for the stronger party members to lift the sleighs, and climbs underneath them, laying on her back. "Let me show you a little trick from the carnival convoys back in Irrisen."
She takes the candles she purchased and starts rubbing them against the bottom of each sleigh; rubbing the wax over the wood that would touch the snow during their travel.
"This should give us some speed, or at least let the dogs have it a bit easier."
She then takes her rope and ties several pine branches together, and ties the entire thing so that it is pulled by the last sleight, just a few feet behind.
"In case someone might want to follow us. This should at least partially cover our tracks."
Once ready, she hops on one of the vehices. "Alright. Let's go hunt us some wyrms!"
She merely nods at the northerners when they depart, mouthing "See you soon."
We will transition with an Important Track (Survival) check.
The DC is 13.
If you have any Survival-related Ancestry Feats, Class Feats or Skill Feats, please share here as well!
"I'll be back for that purse!" He shouts back at Bjorn and Seshu
"And it'll be here for you if you bring the beast's head!" Bjorn yells back as Seshu waves. Ysoldt has already waxed the bottom of the sleigh and it rides smooth, and remains partially covered by the group's backpacks and knapsacks. Dulcinea rides up front and keeps three little balls of light ahead of the dogs improving their visibility somewhat amid the precipitation. Snoslun takes the reins as the Musher and keeps a lookout for wild beasts, and Jacknife points the way from under shield cover.
Able to follow the old woman's description, the party easily manage to locate some matching tracks, and guiding the two sleds in that direction, soon watch behind them as the little town vanishes into a tiny dot, now lost in the snow.
About an hour onto the trail, the tracked terrain changes from fresh snow to icy sleet, and from an open flat to rocky outcroppings covered in ice, when suddenly...
If you Succeed, please describe how you are able to narrowly avert the sleds from driving under a section of an ice wall partially caving in!
If you Fail, please instead describe how you are unable to avert the sleds from driving under a section of an ice wall partially caving in!
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Dulcinea @ Repeat a Spell
Jacknife @ Defend
Snoslun @ Scout
Ysoldt @ Avoid Notice w/ Trapfinder
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