Nearly a month before your graduation as full-fledged Pathfinder agents, each of you receives a note on your doorstep one Starday morning, where classes were canceled for some sort of event that evening.
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A three-foot female goblin makes her way to the event hall, wondering what this mysterious event might be that cancelled classes. She was already looking forward to graduation so that she could explore the wide world beyond the Pathfinder school. She'd already missed the new friends she'd made in the training missions in the last months. She knew her older brother was already on a mission for the Society, though where, she knew not.
She entered the event hall and, finding an empty chair in the corner, sat down. She conjures a set of pan pipes and begins to play. Music always calmed her nerves and drove away her fear.
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A wild-eyed dwarf with copper hair and beard, threaded with several strands of snow-white, looks deeply uncomfortable in the corridors outside the hall, uncertain whether to go in. Joining the Society is starting to feel like maybe it's a bad fit. This place is wildly ostentatious, nothing like the shores of the Steaming Sea or the rough structures of Kalsgard. He's lacking most of his furs, making him feel wildly under-dressed in a linen shirt and hide breeches, but the summer heat is abysmal. He's sure he'll never get used to it.
Moreso than the missing furs, however, he feels utterly naked without Skeggox on his back. But he figures it would be bad form to come to a fancy feast armed and armored. That isn't something people do down south, right? Axes at the party are frowned upon?
Maybe he's being too hard on these Southrons. He's met a few that can drink him under the table, and that's not bad, he supposes. Might I should give them a chance, he thinks. But instead of letting it goad him into entering the party, he sighs and sits on a bench near the doors, staring sourly into the middle distance, tugging at the rough, loose braids in his beard.
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An elven man enters into the room, he is dressed as a woodsman. He wears leather armor and has a bow on his back. His purple eyes shine with friendliness and his hair is long and white.
He greets the dwarf with a nod of the head and gives the goblin a gracious bow.
Greetings, I am Thalaasi Elevas of Kyonin, I am a follower of Keypthis, the Hunter
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Lokaloka stops playing as the dwarf and elf approach her table. She stands up and shyly bows to them.
"I's called Lokaloka. I's called that when I's and brother were growing up here. I's was singing for coppers for food."
Her eyes widen in awe as she takes in the elf's long hair, goblins being being mostly bald. Her wide ears twitch slightly and her mouth slightly hangs ajar. Noting that the elf might be staring, she blushes slightly.
"Yous gots nice hair", she stammers, embarrassed.
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Another dwarf, this one almost grey in appearance due to either a serious lack of color choices, or perhaps a layer of dust and dirt, stomps into the room, a well used pick hanging from a loop of his belt. A strong iron shield strapped on his back, the dwarf looks like him might have just come from fighting in the mines.
"Oi! I hear this be the place to report for gettin' started in this here Pathfinder Society, right? If so, then m' name's Denger. Did I hear some pipes blarin' as I walked in? Not bad, not bad... I prefer sump'in with more of a beat... a nice steady cadence on a deep kettle drum, perhaps? Keeps the arm swinging in time to make the best time... at least that's the way we did it back in the mines..."
As that last sentence drifts off, a sudden sadness seems to over come the dwarf. But a few moments later, he shakes his head and refocuses on the group.
"Now, ain't there supposed to be some snacks at this meeting? Where's the food?"
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A smiling Halfling enters, shortish, wavy, dark hair and a tailored dark red outfit with a white shirt. Somewhat unusually for a halfling, he wears polished leather boots. He looks around, making eye contact with everyone he can.
'Dwarves, Goblin, Elf! This should be exciting. It's a great pleasure to meet you all! I'm Eldon. Did I miss anything?'
He places his pack by the wall and looks around for a drink.
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Spotting the polished boots, Denger snorts as he tries to suppress a laugh.
”Five Mountains is where I hail from, although due to some poor business dealings, my clan was cheated out of our home. Always pay your debts, that’s the lesson my friends. And read the fine print!”
Snapping back to the topic, he asks the other dwarf, ”Where do you call home, friend?”
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"Mm, bad business, that. Sorry to hear it. I'm from Kalsgard, up North. Dunno how long ago Clan Orgrosh wound up there, but we generally, erm... ply the sailing trade." He decides not to mention his clan's propensity for raiding coastal villages. It was no small part of the reason he left, and he doesn't much care to bring it up. He glances up when the goblin squeals and runs off toward the newcomer. He looks around, mildly surprised to see quite a few other initiates around him. He gives an awkward nod of greeting to them. Turning back to Denger, he tries to continue the small talk. This has never been his strong suit, but he figures he aught to give it a shot anyway. He says, "Helluva turnout."
Nailed it.
It seems as though the entire Grand Lodge has the air of a celebration. The great gates are flung wide, and the phoenix trees lining the entryway are in full flame. The halls of the main tower of Skyreach, normally somber and reserved, echo with the sound of voices and music. The great ballroom is decked for a celebration, with colorful banners and bunting along the walls, tables replete with food and drink, and a jovial cacophony of conversation rising from Pathfinders of all ancestries, nations, and backgrounds.
After a quick scan of the room, it’s obvious that many of the attendees have gathered in small groups here and there. A half-orc woman in an iconic ship captain’s hat stands near the punch bowl, almost automatically handing cups to anyone who passes within reach. She seems to be engaged in deep conversation with violet eyed woman with some sort of tattooing on her face. A dark-skinned half-elf and a woman of Chelaxian-descent lead a small group of new agents around the room, introducing them to other attendees while deeply engaged in a conversation themselves. Several senior agents stand in quiet conferral with a dark-haired Taldan man with a distinctive chin strap beard, while a scholarly dwarf tells a rousing tale to a
growing audience.
A familiar blond halfling woman bounces over, bubbling with excitement. Janira Gavix, Head Initiate of the Pathfinder Society, grins, “Oh, I’m so glad you made it! After all, the celebration is for you. Have you gotten drinks? Snacks?"
Beaming she looks over a Loka, "Loka! It'S good to see you again! How as the training mission? Is your brother doing well?"
She looks to Rogar next, a momentary look of confusion on her face before recognition dawns in her eyes. "Rogar? I almost didn't recognize you without Skeggox. You never go anywhere without him... and did you put on cologne? This is a Pathfinder party, everyone is wearing armor and their weapons, I swear half of them would feel like a newborn babe without them. If you want to go grab him we can wait."
Her attentions turn to Thalaasi next. "Elegant as always, Thalaasi! I see you're dressed in your nice leathers today. How has target practice been going? You'll have to help me practice sometime soon. I've gotten a bit rusty."
Eldon draws her smile next. "Eldon! How was that last training mission? I hear you went with Lokaloka? You find anything exciting while exploring the place?"
She finally finds herself face to face with an unknown dwarf and she falters for a moment. "Sorry, I don't think we've been introduced. Janira Gavix, Head Initiate... Are you perhaps looking at joining the Society? You came at a pretty busy time, but if you're okay with a field commission, we could probably start the paper work tonight... Dengar, was it? Tell you what, spend the night with these five and I'll see what they think of your abilities."
She then gestures to the room at large, "Be sure to spend some time getting to know everyone — it’s best to be on good terms with the movers and shakers in the Society, that’s how you learn about the latest opportunities. I’ll be here if you need me to help you with anyone’s names or to make an introduction.” Janira ushers everyone away from the near empty corner where you've gathered yourselves and forward into the room. She pauses part way through, and looks at everyone. "Actually, pop quiz! Do you recognize anyone here?"
Janira gives a small frown, before shrugging. "I guess that works. One point to Loka. You pass!"
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A half orc enters the hall with her walking stick in hand, her partially messy gray hair hangs a little beneath her shoulders, and is otherwise dressed in leather and fur. She seems a little lost for a moment, and continues to walk through the crowd. She stops near your group and comes in closer.
"Morning...", she starts with a simple greeting. "Channary of the Flood Road. Sorry if I'm late. First time in Absalom - well, first time in any city of this magnitude - and I got a little overwhelmed. Might have missed a turn once or twice on the way here."
She scratches her head as she looks over the room. "Sure looks like a celebration here. What's the occasion?"
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”Janira, is it? Yah, I got the introduction earlier, and I put in some time studying up on your organization, so I know the basics. Friend of mine used to leave Pathfinder Chronicles laying about the place, so I picked up a few. When we found ourselves without a home, we decided to join up.”
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'I was just going to grab a glass of wine. Looks like a nice selection! What would you recommend? It's great to see you again Lokaloka! The training mission went really well, thanks. The Duergar didn't seem to comprehend what hit them. The Andorans they wanted for slaves were freed and we had one awesome party afterwards. As for exciting things - we met a very exciting gnome, all fiery-haired and fire-throwing. I lived with gnomes after I escaped from servitude, so I've a bit of a soft spot for them. Being here reminds me of being in Kintargo.'
Taking a breath, Eldon looks around.
'I'm not sure I do recognise anyone. Any chance of you helping me out here?'
He gives her a hopeful expression and a cheeky smile.
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Rogar grumbles, "We had a drink at a tavern not far from here. Tried to drink me under the table. I won. But he spent all his coin on the booze so he didn't have the money to pay me. Said he'd get me back when he came back from his next bounty. Which he has not." He sighs. "Probably never see it, either."
He grumbles something under his breath about "bloody humans."
Janira nods as everyone seems to recognize at least one person, even Channary and Dengar coming in from off the street seem to know someone. "It's great that you know so many people here! But knowing who they are and them knowing who you are are two very different things." She starts to usher you to the rest of the party at large. "You should go over and introduce yourselves. I hear that people really have their hands full this year and could use some help. Don't be afraid to add yourselves to some conversations to introduce yourselves. I'm sure everyone here would love to get to know you, and the really important conversations will continue on after you go."
Janira gives a smile, hands each of you a non-alcoholic drink, and with a wave heads off. "If you need me, I'll be right over there! Have fun!"
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Lokaloka turns to Rogar, her ears twitching slightly in indignation. "You no say that about Cletus! Cletus do good in mission! And what is 'redneck'?! Cletus neck not red!"
Irritation at Rogar had apparently buoyed her courage. To everyone's surprise (especially hers) Lokaloka marches up to Valais Durant and introduces herself.
"I's called Lokaloka. I's born here in Absalom with my brother. Janira says you head of Radiant Oath. Brother and I members of Radiant Oath. We likes to helps people 'coz kind people helps us and make us Paffinders."
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Approaching the same pair of luminaries as Lokaloka, Eldon makes sure he arrives only just after her. He finishes his drink and gets himself another from the punch bowl.
'Please excuse the intrusion, good ladies. You can probably tell we're quite new around here and they haven't let us loose near the good and the great before! I'm Eldon Goodbarrell, another new member of the Radiant Oath and I couldn't help but overhear an interesting conversation right next to the punch bowl.'
He offers a hand to each of them in turn.
'I don't suppose either of you has either some helpful advice or a task that might suit the inexperienced Pathfinder, do you?'
Valais turns from her conversation with Benarry and gives a smile as she recognizes the two people approaching her. "Lokaloka! Eldon! It's good to see you here! It's been months since the faction recruitment event. Of course I remember the three of you signing up. Where is LokoLoko?" She takes a moment to csnt he crowd, but it proves pointless. [b]"Anyways, Captain Benarry and I were just talking about ways to support agents venturing into unknown and unexplored areas and how best to support them without tethering them to trade ROUTES or making them reliant on taking things from the local areas. You both have been on a few training missions, right? Have any ideas?"
Benarry hands both of you a cup of punch and gives a nod, "It'd be good to get a new, fresh perspective."
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Rogar snorts as the goblin walks away. "He keeps swindling every one of his drinking companions, she'll be his only friend."
He has no idea what he should be doing, so he decides he may as well follow Lokaloka and Eldon. He hangs back a little bit, trying not to draw too much attention to himself, but can't help listening in on the conversation.
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Denger nods and follows Rogar. [i]Might as well stick with a fellow dwarf, for now.
"I see Gorm Greathammer is here. Would like to chat up that dwarf to see what advice he might give to a couple of new recruits. But for now, I am happy to follow their lead."
"Well, if ye were to ask me, I know good medicine is hard to find, especially once you get off the main civilization points. If ye really want to be explorin' without negatively impactin' the locals, I say we need to do some better first aid training and supplying herbs and bandages. Let's face it, Society explorers are constantly getting injured, so helping them patch 'emselves up is the least we can do."
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The elf elegently approaches the head of his faction. Greetings Master Elando Kline. I am Thalaasi Elevas, from Kyonin. I have newly begun my association with the Pathfinder Society, trying to keep evil from occuring as well as stopping whatever demons or other fiends we might encounter, in the hopes of returning to Kyonin one day to help in the battle against Treerazor.
He bows before the Oread.
Valais gives a frown at Rogar's suggestion, "Sadly we're already using our shipping abilities to support people as best we can..."
Benarry also pops in, "I might not be captain of the Grinning Pixie anymore but I still keep tabs on it. They haven't had more than three days at port for the last 7 months."
Dengar's suggestion, though gets the aasimar nodding. "That would be a great idea. Additional knowledge is not bad and depending on where they are, the Pathfinders could probably use local herbs letting them resupply themselves."
She looks at LokaLoka and Eldon, "How about you two, you have any good ideas?"
Thalaasi moves up to Eando and Sorrina, finding the faction head denying Sorrina access to the demon summoning relic that some pathfinders brought back to Absalom last week. "... telling you, if that opens another portal we could face another Worldwound here in Absalom. I don't have to tell you how bad that would be... Thalaasi! My it's good to see you, excited on getting to graduate soon? I know the party should have been after that, but this was the only time that most of the head pathfinders were going to be free."
Sorrina, finding Eando a blank wall, seems glad to open up the conversation. After a few moments of greeting, where Eando gives the elf a hearty hand shake and Sorring is reminded of the class she taught, Sorrina changes the subject back to the relic. "So you seem like someone with a good grasp on these things, what do you think?"
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Denger nods and follows Rogar. [i]Might as well stick with a fellow dwarf, for now.
"Well, if ye were to ask me, I know good medicine is hard to find, especially once you get off the main civilization points. If ye really want to be explorin' without negatively impactin' the locals, I say we need to do some better first aid training and supplying herbs and bandages. Let's face it, Society explorers are constantly getting injured, so helping them patch 'emselves up is the least we can do."
'I agree with Dengar. Herbs are really useful and important and can also make travel rations much more palatable. explorers won't need to be taking lots of local food if they have adequate-tasting supplies.
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Channary mingles around to look for anyone familiar. Clearly, this is not her strong suit, but she makes an attempt either way. She approaches Fola Barun at the entrance and attempts to enter the conversation somehow.
"Um, hello, sorry to interrupt... My name is Channary. I was told you are the one to talk to. I am in Absalom for the first time and was called here all the way from Hillcross. Could you give me any pointers, by chance?"
Lokaloka wisely says nothing about the mission support instead deflecting about it to her brother instead. Luckily her slightly less than smooth converstaion steering is counteracted by Eldon's next suggestion.
Benarry starts, "We've tried making long lasting rations before, even dried herbs and spices in there doesn't help, they loose flavor after about a week and..."
Before she can finish that thought though, Valais cuts in, eyes alight. "But if the herbs were fresh then we could readily give them the somewhat bland food rations and the agents could then supplement them with fresh materials later! We need to integrate a better herbalism course into the studies here. Now Eldon, tell me more about what you'd want to see in such a program."
The assimar distracted, Benarry is able to turn to Loka and ask in a small voice, "Now I know this is a party for you. I actually have a little present for you and whoever you're oaky sharing the glory with. Out in the Flotsam Graveyard, there's been a recent ship that cycled to the surface. It has all the classic markers of a ship from the Silent Tide Invasion — a centuries-past naval operation by Taldan operatives known as the Black Echelon attempting to take control of Absalom. A newly uncovered vessel from that era would be an astounding discovery for a group of new Pathfinder agents. The people who tipped me off also got scared off by something on board, so be careful just in case, okay?"
She hands Loka a small bottle and gives her a wink. "That's a healing potion just in case the thing is hostile. If you were to say being the ship back to shore 'in style,' it'd get a lot of people talking about you as agents. Just be safe out there okay?" She then moves over to Valais and takes back over talking with her, freeing up Eldon to go talk to other guests.
Fola and the dark haired woman at the entrance pause their discussion about setting up hidden safe houses in various cities for pathfinders who might not be able to safely access a traditional lodge. The two turn to Channary and pause their conversation. Fola gives a broad smile and shakes Channary's hand. "Yes, you would be right in that. I'm Fola Barun, head of the Envoy's Alliance, and I would be delighted to give you some pointers."
Before she can continue, the other lady steps in. "Hillcross? In the Mammoth Lands? My, that is quite a ways to come. Mind if I ask what politics is brewing up there? I haven't been able to travel away from the Empire as much recently with new empress and all."
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Seeing that the conversation with Bennary and Valais seems to have run its course, Rogar follows Channary over to Fola Barun and the unknown woman, but hearing that it's about politics, he decides to opt out. He knows little about the local politics in Kalsgard, let alone the Mammoth Realms clear across on the other side of Irrisen.
He looks around for someone else to speak to, hoping to make up for his previous blunder with the shipping lanes.
Seriously out of my depth here, he thinks sourly. He goes to find the punch bowl to refill his drink while he tries to figure out who to talk to that won't end up with his foot in his mouth.
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'Great teamwork Loka. You can fill us in later.'
Eldon swiftly steers the two of them towards their rustic friend.
'Did we hear something about politics? I don't think I've ever had the pleasure, my Lady...'
He leaves it hanging, hoping she will respond with her name.
'Lokaloka, you haven't heard any stories from the north, by any chance?
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Lokaloka tells a tale in the North where a group of Pathfinders stopped a group of what appeared to be corrupted leshies up in the Finadar Forest near Mishkar. It is said one of the Pathfinders was a member of her current lodge, though he joined the society before her time.
Lokaloka tries to remember any tales she has learned about affairs in the north, to no avail. Her ears droop slightly, making her disappointment evident.
Dengar moves on from Benarry and Valais looking around the room. There's Fola with most of the other pathfinders you'd been stuck with. There's Thalaasi standing with Eando and Sorrina. And finally Gorm Grathammer swapping stories with Aaqir. Anyone of the groups might not be a bad place to start talking.
The dark-haired lady takes Eldon's offered hand and curtsies as best she can withthe height difference. She graces him with a smile, "Lady Gloriana Morilla. It's a pleasure, Mister..." She seems to volley the conversation back into Eldon's court using the same swing.
As Eldon tries to charm Gloriana, he can't quite remember anything about recent society as the Lady keeps his mind busy with conversation.
LokaLoka pops up however with a story about the recent events in the Findar Forest, pulling the Lady's attention. "Why I hadn't heard about that, how recent was that? Fola, you hadn't told me about that mission."
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Don't leave your fellow Pathfinders floundering, you dolt! Do something. You know politics well enough--Kalsgard politics anyway.
He steps back into the conversation with Fola and Lady Gloriana, and clears his throat. "I don't know much about local politics, but the holds in the Land of the Linnorm Kings are very, uhm... active. The typical form of negotiation in Kalsgard is 'aggressvie negotiation'." He leans in conspiratorially. "That'd be negotiations with a greataxe." He chuckles at his terrible joke.
Absolutely killing it. You should be an ambassador.
Lady Gloriana gives a chuckle at Rogar's joke, clearly charmed by his littel joke. "Kalsgard really is into negotiating with their weapons more than their words. So tell me, how is Thira Ah-Eyes doing as the new Linnorm King? Last I had heard, she'd been facing challenges for her use of magic..."