You and the work crews have a Giant Gecko Runt BBQ that night in the cleared-out yard. It's a much-needed respite from the routine of work. Morale has been raised. Dethor braises the meat perfectly. Pickles are enjoyed by some.
Salaish casts Read Aura on the shrine and gets an overwhelming aura of Necromancy.
Yes… you may want to decipher those words. As project managers, you might identify a necromantic shrine as a "negative risk" to your project. The shrine will take 6 days of effort to translate.
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You wake up the next morning full of Giant Gecko Runt and, yawning bleary-eyed, behind your day…
Salaish Talenduth
Daraj l'Bayal
Makai Goldenoak
Lokoloko
Honzakqed
Dethor
"Looks like another draw, Lokoloko."
Disappointed that a conclusion to their match has to wait even longer, Daraj decides to take out his frustration on the outer wall. He brings Junissa because he needs her and Benyan and Gerlind because they should do an honest day's work.
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Salaish feels so refreshed after taking a couple days' break from trying to make these people like them. Now it's back to it! (Especially since there's literally no way she could be of any help at the fort today. Not until stairs to the roof are rebuilt, anyway.) Taking advantage of her great mood (Giant Gecko Runt BBQ is delish!), she catches Priest Lumley after the morning service. This time, for sure, spending the morning with him and his guard, Aasif, won't be in vain! Especially since she'll be mostly listening, smiling, and nodding. That oughta stroke those egos!
Wahoo! I feel so much better about this time! At least it's not worse! Afterwards, Salaish stops by to chat with Sylvina Norritch. She hasn't had a chance to chat with her yet, and the local sage seems like a good woman to know.
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Lokoloko grabs Wilfred, Petrus and Rakka and sets to working on the stairs.
While working on the stairs, Lokoloko and his workers share sandwich recipes.
Before heading out, Lokoloko grabs a slice of the gecko's tail and drops it into a jar of pickle brine (separate from his pickle jar) as an experiment. He makes sure that Honzak is watching...
Before heading out, Lokoloko grabs a slice of the gecko's tail and drops it into a jar of pickle brine (separate from his pickle jar) as an experiment.
That is chronicle-worthy!
Daraj crits the outer wall!
Salaish Succeeds on Lumley, crits on Aasif, and fails to impress Sylvina.
Lokoloko makes average progress on the stairs.
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Salaish Talenduth
Daraj l'Bayal
Makai Goldenoak
Lokoloko
Honzakqed
Dethor
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Dethor looks down at the four corpses. ”Someone should get onto the butchering of these. Make good roasts, a bit lean for steaks. Braising, that’s the key. ”
"Looks like meats back on the menu boys!"
Makai eats the barbecue and is worried about what Salaish has discovered with regard to the shrine. She goes to Honzakqed and stops to chat with Dimitsi
"You heard that there is a smell of necromancy from the shrine? Do you want to join me to investigate it? Torag is indifferent to necromancy but Magrim is not. The forge father focuses on the creation, but I don't want us to have a necromantic shrine in this castle. If I understand who you are, you do not."
She goes and works on the shrine...
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Honzak watches the entire butchering, marinating and roasting of the geckos with open apprehension. "Still can't believe you're going to EAT those..." Though after all of the preparation and time spent on making the food it'd be rude to not try it. After a long moment to chew it, he looks down at the small cut of meat on his plate. "This isn't... terrible. How did you get it to have that savory/chewy texture?" He goes back for a larger piece. The night ends on a sour note as he notices Loko dropping one of the tails into a jar full of that foul liquid and very nearly vomits at the idea.
After a meal of frankly amazing meat, Honzak preps the next day by braking a pattern and getting up early. It takes a lot to drag himself out of bed for the morning service. Bleary eyed and yawning profusely, he finds Makai, amazed the woman is able to be up at the early early hour of 7 in the morning and asks about her plan of action today.
After that and some breakfast, if the priests and townsfolk don't object, Honzak observes the religious ceremonies and observances as they would certainly be an interesting and educational experience. After the service, whether or not he and his butler get to attend, Honzak pulls the priest aside with Salaish and asks him if he'd be willing to join them up at the fort to look at a potentially worrisome room they'd just found, paying 1.5 times the normal rate. On the way, he also stops by the potion shop and offers Sylvina the same opportunity, with the same boost in pay of course.
Down in the room, Honzak chatters away with everyone not really helping with the translation work, but Dimitsi is very avid about making sure this was not the hideout of a necromancer who perverted the flow of souls.
Honzak's first order of business is to finally, finally get some solid information on the exact nature of the Razmirian funeral music. Do they even hold observances for their dead? Is there any sort of music that is used at those times? Is the music a lively energizing variety, like a wake or party celebrating the life of the deceased or a somber and solemn tone, in honor of the one who passed? What instruments do they use? Are there lyrics? Who chooses the songs? And most importantly is there a belief that the music itself helps the soul pass on into the Boneyard without harm?
For Sylvina, Honzak settles on a lighter topic of discussion and asks her about her general recipes, keeping the exact numbers and way of making them secret of course, for potions and if people in this area tend to use things that the potion makers in Nex would never dream of.
After a long time down in the dusty room and voice tired from chatting, Honzak heads up stairs finding Petrus and splitting his sandwich with the guard in exchange for a promise to make sure the crazed 'pickle goblin' stays away from the basement for the rest of the day. He eats the sandwich in silence and then heads back down stairs.
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Dimitsi straightens to an unreasonable height at the mention that there is a necromancy aura in the room that had been found. He only leaves the area at the mental insistence of Honzak threatening to leave him behind and make him lose his tether to this plane.
Dimitsi is antsy through the barbeque and visibly shaking and pacing around. Even after Honzak goes to sleep, when Dimitsi usually has some time to clean a few things and then spend time in silent meditation, composing music, he just paces the room over and over restless and the closest thing to worried he can get.
The next morning, he's glad that Honzak wanted to get up early hoping to get an early start on the room, but has to suffer through the ceremony and waiting for Honzak to gather the workers. When he finally gets up to the fort, Dimitsi looks over at Makai, his voice tinged by bells the next hill over pealing in alarm, "I there anything I can do to help, or should I work on my own? I can read and write Requian if needed."
Honzak makes Lumley unfriendly again. He fails to impress Sylvina and Petrus.
However, the crew focuses so hard on avoiding Honzak's gaffes that they complete translating the shrine in ONE day. What they find is not good. Turns out the secret room is a shrine to Urgathoa. In fact, it's so powerful it's functioning as a beacon to undead throughout the region.
The old sage, Sylvina Norritch, nods. Oh, I seen this kinda thin before. We can clanse it, we can! But we needs… oh lessee… 40 gold worth o' imported spices and special fragrances. I got some in me shop, if ye wanna buy 'em. Priest Lumley says nothing and was as useful as an unskilled laborer in translating and will be just as useful in consecrating the shrine.
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Dethor is up.
Dethor makes progress on the stairs.
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Salaish Talenduth
Daraj l'Bayal
Makai Goldenoak
Lokoloko
Honzakqed
Dethor
Dethor's team does such a good job on the stairs that Daraj suggests the rogue get an ale and take the afternoon off while he invites Lokoloko, Makai and Honzak up to help clean the roof. Chucking stuff off the sides can be a team bonding exercise.
(And if there's any wood that is not fit for re-use, Daraj and Lokoloko can use it for target practice.)
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Salaish is disheartened that all her progress on Priest Lumley was in vain, but she can't really blame Honzaq. Lumley's one tough cookie. She resolves to stop by and apologize later this afternoon. First, though, she wants to chat with Martin Hengus and Plisken the Brown.
Martin's husband, Edgar, seems to really like the Pathfinders, and Martin seems friendly enough. Even so, Salaish is aware that the couple will be stronger allies together. Let's make 'em both like us lots! She summons a lute and spends time strumming while they chat about whatever is on Martin's mind.
Trappers get around. They see things. Salaish figures Plisken would have a few things to say about the Giant Gecko Runts the team attacked recently, so she pops over to chat with him about them. (And to ask if that's *really* what they're called.)
And finally, back to Priest Lumley, to whom she apologizes for Honzaq's behavior and allows Priest Lumley to say exactly what he thinks of the summoner with a sincere promise never to repeat it. (Because why would she let those embarrassingly inaccurate, self-important, and mean-spirited words cross her tongue?)
Dethor finishes the stairs with his crew
Dataj, Makai, and LokolokoHonzak start clearing the roof.
Salaish has no luck with Martin or Plisken. WHich only makes Lumley happy and more receptive to her efforts.
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Specialists claimed: None Budget: 72 GP
Salaish Talenduth
Daraj l'Bayal
Makai Goldenoak
Lokoloko
Honzakqed
Dethor
Daraj decides to finish the front door today with Junissa and Wilfred. That keeps him as far from Makai, who was definitely staring daggers at him, as possible.
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Lokoloko will grab Honzak, Dimitsi and one other and finish up with the roof. He heard Makai's cursing the day before and decides to avoid her for now. While cleaning the roof, Lokoloko can occasionally be seen reaching into his pickle jar for a bite of onion (or to press on the lizard tail). At the end of the cleaning session, he offers Honzak another pickle...
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Honzak, despite helping Daraj, desperately begs off the roof crew, claiming a 'deathly fear of heights' and instead heads into town. As soon as he's 95 feet from the fort, Dimitsi on the roof stands up, gives Loko a regretful bow and then very quietly under his breath mutters "The f***er" while staring in the direction of Honzak. A moment later the psychopomp disappears with a sound like four instruments hitting the wrong note at the same time.
Honzak instead spends time in town schmoozing up people and asking about after things and after a little bit he resummons Dimitsi and has to apologize to the eidolon by giving him the rest of the day off.
Dimitsi still has to stay close but doesn't actually have to wait on the man anymore.
Honzak decides to go around to some of the specialists instead talking to Sylvina again, then Braderock and Plisken.
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Dethor will spend the day talking to folks.
First, he will talk to Sylvina about stuff, trying to surprise her with his knowledge.
Then he takes time to discuss the Horgats... trying to explain the value of physical labor, even though he doesn't necessarily believe it himself.
Unfortunatey, Dethor is not convincing today
Daraj spends 2 GP on the specialists to finish the gates.
Lokoloko finishes the roof Makai and 2 workers
Honzak has a rough day in town. Perhaps he was already put in a sour mood by his pickle-slinging goblin friend.
Dethor crit fails on Sylvina. Maybe he lets something slip about "acquiring" ingredients. The other two remain staunch.
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Salaish Talenduth
Daraj l'Bayal
Makai Goldenoak
Lokoloko
Honzakqed
Dethor
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The first thing Salaish does today is say hi to Mikkel Mayer. It's...kind of an awkward conversation, really.
For a palette cleanser, Salaish heads over to chat with Braderock Brumm. He hasn't been very chatty, and she wants to put him at ease.
When Salaish hears from Honzaq and Denthor how their chats with the locals went, she is exasperated. To be fair, she's had the same luck far too often. "Oh. My. Gosh! Why can't these people see that we're perfectly likable and friendly?!" She marches right over to Sylvina to apologize and try to make things right.
Sylvina introduces Salaish to her seven pet rats. You know, the ones who never leave her hair or pockets. Ain't they cuties? Yes, they are! says the old woman as one of them plucks a crumb off her nose. I'm sorry to charge so much for the shrine cleansing ingredients, but he way. I need to pay Lumley a sizeable cut of anything I sell to keep him outta my business. I don't wanna be 'disappeared,' jailed, or sent away to a re-education camp. Especially considerin' my past — She stops short before revealing more. I'm happy to help you cleanse the shrine.
Braderock lost most of his family after they were sent off to a work camp after being accused of disloyalty to the government by Lumley. His house is big and empty. He wonders if his loved ones will ever come home, and if they do will they be the same people who left?
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Salaish Talenduth
Daraj l'Bayal
Makai Goldenoak
Lokoloko
Honzakqed
Dethor
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Today, Salaish sets her sights on Bessama Lingler. She's heard from her teammates who've worked with her that she can have a mean streak, and wants to make sure it isn't aimed at the Pathfinders.
Next, she heads back over to Braderock's. He's had such a hard time lately, and has been so lonely. She composes a song for him, its mood flowing from sadness to hope.
And finally, back to visit Martin Hengus to cement their friendship. Hopefully, anyway. He seems a bit harder to reach than his husband.
Daraj looks at their dwindling purse and volunteers to help out with labor wherever he's needed.
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Honzak spends the day away from the fort and that Pickle Goblin. He instead tries to find some people to talk to. First he stops by the trapper's house. He asks Plisken if the, uh, could teach him anything about hiding out in the woods in case Loko got more aggressive.
He then heads back to the inn after Loko has hopefully left for the day and finds Lotte, asking about possible things that a goblin might not like, to possibly retaliate the toxic pickle tactics.
He finally then hunts down Sylvina, asking if she has any incensces or goblin bane things at all.
Salaish makes progress with Braderock, who is just as lazy while friendly as we was while unfriendly. At least he's more cheerful about it.
She learnes Martin and his husband no love lost for Priest Lumley but know better than to openly oppose him openly.
Honzak makes Lotte unfriendly again. However makes a good impression on Plisken and makes Sylvinia friendly! He learnes in her youth she was a devotee of Hanspur, the Water Rat. This explains all the rats about her person. She may even be a secret worshiper of the deity here in Razmir.
Lokoloko hires Daraj, Dethor, and Makai to rowk on the roof. Makai really wants to get to that shrine but seems to always get pulled in other directions!
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Specialists claimed: None Budget: 68 GP
Salaish Talenduth
Daraj l'Bayal
Makai Goldenoak
Lokoloko
Honzakqed
Dethor
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"I am going to the shrine. Whoever wishes, they may join me."
Makai looks at Dimitsi
"If you want I can lock Honak in the basement to let you work on the cleansing."
Makai heads downstairs with procured items to do the cleanse. This day she carries her armor, she begins the ritual.
After the withering glares from previous days, Daraj goes down and helps cleanse the shrine. He makes hammercakes for lunch.
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Okay! After her morning mental pep talk, Salaish moseys on over to Lotte Mayar to smooth things over with her. I keep having to apologize for Honzak. Funny thing is, he's had to apologize for me more than once two. These townsfolk are *tough*!
After that, she tries again to engage Mikkel in conversation. Maybe talking to his mom just now will give her some insight?
And finally, a talk with a grown up again. How about Priest Lumley? He's been much friendlier lately. Perhaps now he'd be interested in the new composition she's been working on in her spare time.
Salaish makes inroads with Lotte and Lumley.
Makai goes to the shrinw with Daraj to cleanse it.
Lokoloko, Dethor, Dimitsi crit the walls with Junissa.
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Specialists claimed: None Budget: 25 GP
Salaish Talenduth
Daraj l'Bayal
Makai Goldenoak
Lokoloko
Honzakqed
Dethor
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Flush with success, Lokoloko repeats the same task with the same crew (Dimitsi, Junissa and Dethor). This time he start swapping pickle recipes with Junissa.
At the end of the work day, Lokoloko and Junissa head to the inn for ale and more pickle sandwiches. Lokoloko also heads into the kitchen for more cucumbers, onions and radishes to replenish the pickle jar. He then checks on the gecko tail soaking in pickle brine.
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Makai goes for another day to the shrine. She was glad with the progress that they made the last day. She waits for Daraja to join, if he does not show up, she would bring someone from the town. She puts her hammer on the altar and uses her crafting tools to clear the images and writings from the wall. Then she begins to make a hammer symbol of Torag. Which is accompanied by fire - a symbol of forge and badger. On the side nook, she puts another symbol of the hammer but next to it is a picture of mole a sacred anima of Magrim.
Daraj will help with the shrine again.
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Honzak and Dimitsi both bow out of helping Loko for both days. Honzak for not letting the goblin further antagonize him without the herbs that Sylvina ordered in for warding off goblins and Dimitsi for not sitting idly by while a shrine to the antithesis of his entire purpose in life exists on the property.
Down in the shrine Dimitsi and Honzak work as one actually well oiled machine in chipping off iconography of the Pallid Princess and adding in holy symbols of various deities that fight for the proper progression of life and death. Honzak adds a small crescent moon with the various phases in as well while Dimitsi adds the spiral of the Lady in Bones herself, in smaller flanking positions to Makai's Torag and Magrim. "The more deities the better, no? A shrine can honor many especially in a lodge that would likely have to deal with many Pathfinders of various denominations unable to openly worship in the open here. Maybe we could make a tradition of adding a symbol to your own diety when you visit?"
Since we don't need three people working on the shrine, Daraj will instead head for the roof, and pack enough lunch that no one needs a pickle if they don't want it.
Makai, Honzak, Dimitsi re-consecrate the shrine at no cost — while re-consecrating it to several deities.
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Specialists claimed: None Budget: 25 GP
Salaish Talenduth
Daraj l'Bayal — Helping out
Makai Goldenoak
Lokoloko
Honzakqed
Dethor
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Now that Priest Lumley is super chummy with the Pathfinders, Salaish thinks it best to befriend all his guards too. If everyone in the temple is on the same page, there won't be as much of a chance of a spy/betrayal later. She spends some time composing a tune for each of them to showcase the traits each of them requests.
That evening, Salaish checks in with the group on the plan for the rest of their stay. She tells them that her current strategy is to get whole households to the helpful stage, so that they present a united front. Once they get to the two week mark, she plans to focus her efforts on making sure everyone is at least friendly. Finally she asks: "So do you think I'm doing this right? We know we have less than 20 days, but not by how much. Should I switch my focus now? I think we should only give our tokens to the helpful people, and we'll have more to choose from if I focus on that. But any indifferent or unfriendly people with make their job much harder, so... Anyway, what's your input?"
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"The more deities the better, no? A shrine can honor many especially in a lodge that would likely have to deal with many Pathfinders of various denominations unable to openly worship in the open here. Maybe we could make a tradition of adding a symbol to your own diety when you visit?"
Makai raises her head "Deities are not like a box of candy. If we make such rule very quickly someone brings a casket of that mailing drunkard. I can't consecrate this shrine to anyone else than Torag, but he is a forge father who is not concerned with a lot of other aspects of the world, and he maintains good relations with other gods."
Makai comes to see a symbol made by Dimitis and pats him on his shoulder then she looks at what should be moon by Honzak
"Ok, you might not know that but Torag does not accept an inferior work. So if you want to add a symbol of another deity make it right. Grab a chisel, you will not scribble on the wall like some Goblin. We shall make it to last."
She grabs a hammer and leads Honzak to do the proper work. Torag is all about craft after all...