[Outpost V] GM Glittermander Bounty 8 The Tireless Path (Inactive)

Game Master Ivis Flanagan

This is the gameplay thread for Bounty #8 - The Tireless Path as part of Outpost V. Feel free to "dot and delete" if you are part of the game, and look for us to begin on March 6th, 2022!

On your way from here to there, you have found yourself in the weary little town of Gracey. Nestled against the Gravelands along the southern border of Ustalav, it is a quiet place, though it seems a lot of people passing through. Among those other passersby, you have run into some fellow adventurers, who have joined you for lunch inside the Ash Inn. As you enjoy your food, you take time to tell stories of your past, and introduce your selves to each other better.

As you are making your introductions, the inn keeper brings you your lunches (a wonderful lamb stew) and the heads to pin a notice onto the board by the door.
See slides for note.

"I am Ulvard!" announces a rather large Ulfen man as he sits at the table. The chair creaks ominously as he settles his weight into it.

"You have likely heard of me, no?" he adds with a smile.

"Savior of golden Llama. Seducer of Women! Rejectors of Spiders. "

He gestures to the note. "Pay for going where Ulvard is going. Who else travels to Caliphas?"

A tall and young Orc wearing half-plate armor looks up at Ulvard and nods their head. "Gnavy" says as he takes another spoon of the stew. Next to the table lies his large steel shield, spear and a huge axe.

"I was heading to Gravelands to get some experience and join Knights of Lastwall" like this would explain that he is interested in the job.

He takes another spoon of stew and looks at the others...

A well dressed elf in leather trousers and jacket sits at the table enjoying his food.

"Well, you are all rather boisterous. My name is Zelen - I'm an inventor by trade."

Excited barks come from under the before a ceramic dog poes his head above the table. Zelen grins and pats the dog with pride.

"And this is my good friend Delta. Built him with my Uncle out of parts scavenged from Numeria."

He sips his tea

"Quite where he gets his energy from, I don't know, but he's a good companion to have"

A halfling in a leather jerkin sits quietly, eating. He looks around quickly to see if anyone else is going to talk right away, then responds in a low voice. "Nic Blackwillow, most recently from Absalom. I'm--" He scans the crowd again before going on. "--an advocate, one might say, for those who have been unjustly imprisoned."

Sitting down with you is an older but very cheerful silver-haired, bearded, and mustachioed gnome. Their hair is spiky in all directions at all times, grinning at the new sights. They use a staff to walk, in the shape of a shepherd's crook with the symbol of a stylized sun inside of it, that symbol also worn around their neck.

"Did I say hello outside? I honestly don't remember! ...I don't remember a lot of things these days. Pathfinder Society leadership, they say I've got this...whatchamacall it...synesthesia? No, that ain't it...amnesia! That's the one. That's why I keep goin' on all these adventures over an' over again with you young whippersnappers...they think if I keep doin' this, some day it'll click and I can move on! Pleased t'meet ya!"

Ulvard grins. "Sure did Grandpar! And we had dinner last night. I bought the rounds then, you said you would buy them today!"

The halfling covers his mouth with his hand, coughing as a bite of food goes down the wrong way.

Ulvard grins. "Sure did Grandpar! And we had dinner last night. I bought the rounds then, you said you would buy them today!"

"Splendid!" He pats down his pockets. "Hrm...must be the other way around, because I'm plumb broke! Water for me!"

Ulvard grins. "Sure did Grandpar! And we had dinner last night. I bought the rounds then, you said you would buy them today!"

Gnavy stops eating and raises his eyes. Was that really what happened, the old-timmer seemed to have just arrived here he wondered to himself. And after a couple of seconds, he realized what was happening. That warrior tried to scam that gnome. Disgusting! In Hold of Belkzen that would be punished.

Killing weak, robbing them sure, cheating was for goblins.

The orc finished eating. He looked at Zelen

"So what kind of weapon have you invented lately?" tried to ask politely.

He looked at Watson couldn't believe how did he survive so long, and why did his Warband kill him before he got to that state. Gnavy was disgusted with the cruelty of other races.

Ulvard wrote:

"So what kind of weapon have you invented lately?" tried to ask politely.

"Well, thank you for asking. This little beauty"

He takes out a foot long rectangle of metal, before pressing a button on it. When he does so, the device springs into the shape of a shortbow

"THIS is my collapseable shortbow. Packs done nicely, draws with little effort and has counterweights to increase my accuracy"

"But that's just a toy compared to Delta. You know, in my opinion making another sentient creature is a *little" more impressive"

Ulvard just grins at the old timer. "Guess the drinks are on me then. Can't have you drinking the water. Who knows what it might do to you." he says, ordering ale and stew.

As he does so, he points to the notice on the wall. "Who is travelling?" he rumbles.

Nic tentatively holds up a hand. "I am."

Delta barks excitedly, putting his paws on the table

Zelen smiles and laughs

"Seems we are too! Delta picking the missions has worked for me so far"

A short kobold rushes through the doorway. His golden scales sparkling in the inn's torchlight.

"Jinlong Dragonkin! I saw the sign but lost track of time in the marketplace. I hope I'm not too late."

"I like the bow, I can see some orcish children use it." he responds to Zelen

"But that metal tin does not look sentient"

Gnavy looks once again at the notice and he nods his head ...

"I like the bow, I can see some orcish children use it." he responds to Zelen

"But that metal tin does not look sentient"

Gnavy looks once again at the notice and he nods his head ...

Zelen's face falls into a frown, deeply unimpressed by this Orcs attitude.

"Not sentient? What a coincidence, I was thinking something very similar"

"Shall we just get this over with then so we can carry on with our lives?"

"I personally favor the crossbow. But that's what Abadar prefers."

The halfling quietly finishes his meal.

"I personally favor the crossbow. But that's what Abadar prefers."

"Eh? Crossbones? Isn't that pirate goddess territory?"

Jinlong gives Watson a strange look. "Crossbow. Like this one. You should show more respect to Dragon weapons!"

Jinlong pulls out his crossbow to elaborate to Watson what he's talking about.

Nic carefully wipes his mouth with his napkin, then folds the napkin and sets it on his plate before taking his dishes up to the counter. When he stands, it can be seen that he has a sheathed rapier clipped to his belt.

Zelen looks over at the crossbow

"Looks well made! I'm sure you're a master with it. I look forward to seeing you use it"

"Back in a minute, just going to get a drink"

Zelen hops up and rushes after Nic, with Delta scampering after.

"Well that was rather awkward wasn't it. I'm interested in your 'advocating' though.

He looks around discreetly, before whispering

"You haven't per chance had a chance to visit Cheliax have you?"

The halfling freezes for a moment, then looks up at Zelen, his face blank. "I am originally from Cheliax."

Zelen goes pale
"Oh, I'm... I'm so sorry. I recently went to Kintargo and had to travel through Cheliax on the way. I was fine, but the way they treated halflings there.... Sorry, I shouldn't have brought it up"

Zelen reaches out his hand to shale

"Can we pretend that I didn't say all that? Just a slip of the tongue?"

He smiles earnestly

Jinlong blushes, though it's not obvious on his golden scales.

"M-m-master? Me? Oh no. I have Abadar to guide my aim. He's the master, not I."

Nic reaches up to shake the inventor's hand, then bows slightly. "I should apologize to you, sir, for sharing that with you. It is none of your concern."

Jinlong gives Watson a strange look. "Crossbow. Like this one. You should show more respect to Dragon weapons!"

Jinlong pulls out his crossbow to elaborate to Watson what he's talking about.

Watson thrusts his hands in the air, accidentally sending a soup spoon flying, its contents splattering on somebody.

"I surrender! Don't shoot!"

Zelen shakes Nick's hand and bows back

"You have nothing to apologise for. All I'll say is you have a sympathizer in me"

The inn keeper comes over, topping off all of your glasses and look at Ulvard.

"Interested in that little flyer I see? Well, I'm Jakivi, the one and only. Seems to me that it shouldn't be too much trouble for those of your ilk. They're just looking for some capable help on the roads, after the recent attacks on travelers heading between here and the city."

Jakivi then tilts his head every so slightly towards Gnavy, "You speak of Lastwall as though there are still knights to join."

"Ulvard will be an Ulfen Guard, not a Knight of Lastwall." proclaims Ulvard.

"Although my people have heard of the Last Knights. They fought with honor against evil of unknowing depths."

Delta will walk over to Jakivi and nuzzles his hand and leg for pets

Zelen nods at Ulvard's words, and then gestures for Delta to walk up to Jakivi to try and reassure him.

"Jakivi - nice to meet you. Is everything okay? You seem hesistant. Please, we're here to help"

Nic clears his throat quietly. "Excuse me. Could you tell us more about the recent attacks?"

Gnavy looks at Jakivi "I got my orders, get through the borders, gain money and experience along the way. Join Knights of Lastwall or whatever is left of them. "

He looks puzzled. My boy Gnavy does not know much about the world, being an uneducated orc is hard in the Golarion

"Jaklivi, are you all right? You must tell me what's wrong. You have nothing to fear as I am descended of Dragons and will protect you."

"Jaklivi, are you all right? You must tell me what's wrong. You have nothing to fear as I am descended of Dragons and will protect you."

Gnavy looks down at the creature reaching barely to his waist "But you will grow taller, right?" :P

Ulvard looks doubful at Gnavy's question.

"Ulvard thinks Jinlong come from little dragon, not big one. Faerie dragon maybe?"

Watson starts trembling as his arms get tired, held in the air as they are...

Jinlong looks at the two tall creatures.

"You should be more respectful! I am the descendant of a mighty Dragon! You may regret belittling me."

Jinlong entertains the temptation to simply tackle the two warriors, but is afraid the GM might give infamy... ;)

"Nay little dragon. " says Ulvard. Then notices that the old gnome seems to have got stuck half way through his star jumps. He picks up Watson and lowers him to the chair.

"See, here Watson is mighty but small. In home, saying goes 'The taller the Giant, the bigger the hole.'"

"I seem to remember it as, 'the bigger they are, the more bones they break?'" He doesn't seem to be threatened by that crossbow any longer, so he tentatively puts his arms down as Ulvard sets him on a different chair.

Ulvard nods enthusiastically.

"Exactly. As they fall down, their bones break!"

Walking over to the bar, Jakivi pulls another pitcher of ale and pours himself a class, before walking back and offering to refill all of yours. He takes a a deep sigh, the pulls up a chair and sits down with you at the table. Once seated, he finally continues, "The rumors are that those who are patrolling the roads are not bandits, but rather undead. Those are the remnants of my brothers in arms... Soldiers of Lastwall who found themselves on the wrong side of the battle as we retreated from the Gravelands."

He grips the coin he is holding tighter as he tells you this. " This is why I want to help Arek and Andri find capable people to escort them from here to Caliphas - people who can hold their own if the undead minions of the Tyrant find them. You lot look like you will be fine for such a straight forward task - escort them from here to there, and in exchange they will feed you 3 square meals a day, and pay you the fare wage of 4 gold each once you reach Caliphas safely. If you are willing to take it on, you will find the Graghols finishing loading their wagons with passengers and supplies outside the stables on the far end of town."

The halfling nods. "Of course, sir."

Gnavy takes the drink and sips it slowly, he simply nods his head but in his eyes, there is excitement, finally, he would find undead to fight and see what they can do.

"Ahh, fighting the fallen! This is what Ulvard is destined to do!" rumbles the big man.

"And gold too. That is even better!"

Zelen nods solemnly

"We'll do it; and We'll make sure to take down any of the Knights that are still... animate. It's what they'd want."