You arrive at Olfden and find a room at Drunken Dragon Inn
A bartender comes to you, he is tall, bald human with long moustache
"Good day, how about I move you closer to the fire, there will be better light, and the table is a bit on the side. Today we have a badger goulash, onion soup with mountain cheese and fresh bread, or chicken stew. With regards to beers, we have some local Aldoran Ales and right from Absalom a GPA: Goblin Puddles Ale. Every pint tastes differently, odd if you ask me... Anyway my name is Chubby Chuck. In roughly 30 minutes a bard will come to cheer up the mood."
People begin to gather, you can see that most of the people know Chubby Chuck and sit at the bar, there are few other groups sitting at the tables, mostly merchants and prospectors.
Soon people begin to play all sorts of bar games, knife throwing at the target, hand wrestling, knowledge quizzes etc.
While waiting for your orders Chubby Chuck says "Residents are cheerful bunch so feel free to join them in their games, you can literally find anything at Drunken Dragon"
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No less than red-nosed ladies swooned as the very same air that had touched Don Jurri, Modern Knight gently blew their direction in the wake of his confident stride straight to the front of the Drunken Dragon’s bar line, side-stepping the commonly shapen regulars with a swift and arrogant cut, declaring through action that those below his station ought be served afterwards, his own “apology” a stunning blow as the soft yet firm handsome lines of his face disarmed even the most ordinarily self-confident of men as well as women, elderly as well as mature, creatures of all races - the raw charisma bringing a nearby whining babe to soothment, a young ruffian to part the crowd on his behalf, the bartender to rush hand-over-foot to render service as quickly as possible, and all the semi-fashionable standing around in oohs and aahs relishing the vibrant and bold draping of couture finery bedecked our dashing hero’s lithe and elegant frame!
Or rather.
Such is the story our self-befuddling hero told in his head, to himself, like the old books of yore read to him in his youth (unchanged his profile pic since such a time) - yes, the hero enters, and all take notice, draw amazing breath at his splendor, savoring the fleeting moment wringing out their droll lives, this, that, the other...
But what actually happens was as follows: a middle-aged man, certainly past his prime, penniless from once riches, whose out of mode garments of past season fashion bear the soiling of not having been recently washed properly (and faded from wear), walks up to the front of the bar, elbowed several times, and ignored indefinitely, ends up snatching the abandoned mug, half-empty, of an already passed out patron, and his imagination ripe with the former fantasy, loudly declares, in character:
”This round on me, Don Jurri, Modern Knight!” a gesture which, by din of defeat, is surely lost in the noise of the gathered crowd!
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Ithuriel sits at a table in the middle of the room of the Drunken Dragon Inn, munching on the greasy badger goulash. He is a far older looking man, dressed in an off-white set of robes with an even whiter beard. He is an obvious man of faith as an actual glowing halo slowly revolves around his head a few inches from the top like some sort of glowing crown. The halo's illuminations basks down on the man casting him in a sort of brilliant and holy light.
While not from Olfden, he has traveled far from the River Kingdoms where he has spent the majority of his time. His journey has but one simple purpose. He only purpose in life since he was sent down from the heavens to achieve one true and righteous goal. "Onion Soup will be fine."
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A somewhat small and indistinct kayal , whose skin appears to be absent of color and partially void of substance, arrives to the Drunken Dragon Inn. They wear fashionable yet functional clothing underneath a somewhat bulky half plate that fits well and has a series of dots and lines etched into it forming what appears to be constellations. At their side is a kukri and a starknife with a central grip that depicts a silver dragon whose neck, wings, and tail wrap around the blades. Lastly, a moon-shaped medallion is worn around their neck and rests atop the armor.
Naturally the kayal desires to stick to the shadows and observe from a distance, though their plans are somewhat foiled by the invitation to draw closer to the fire. I guess this is part of discovering about what life has to offer... they think, begrudgingly, to themself.
"Call me Zenith" they say with a smile as they eye the knife throwing contest. Zenith waits for a clear moment before attempting to tumble through the crowd, followed by a flick of the wrist to throw their starknife at the target.
The starknife sings as it flies through the air and returns to Zenith's hand ready to catch it.
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"Me is Screech Razorsong!" annouces the foppishly dressed goblin. "Me survive the fall of Lastwall, where I was a Defender! Well, me was until my squad threw me out of Lastwall. They say my songs and my recorder could wake the dead!
"Screech tell them they is wrong, but they no listen!
"No sooner than Screech get thrown out, the Whispering Tyrant wakes up again! Me swear, me was not singing or tootling at the time! Screech's squad all get dead and then come to try and kill Screech. Me no like that, so I kill them right back!
"But me tell them whole time that they not be dead if they had listened to Screech!"
Screech goes on about this heroics in "defending lastwall", prooving to everyone how he got his name!
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Our deluded hero's handsome physique serves as a source of animosity for those humanoid specimens obsessed with hierarchal classifications of sex type, eager to prove their assigned merit through vulgar displays of brute showmanship, and consequently, "calling out" Don Jurri to prove himself worthy of the unspoken and invisible moniker that communicates to the room his position upon the system's apex - incidentally putting a target on his head for every player in every pecking order! A large man walks up to him to carry through the deed, and is easily thrown down by a superior technique of kinesthetic power!
"That, my fellow, was impolite, and you ought chide yourself for lack of proper manners!" is the punchline which through vicious and public mockery coupled with executed "revenge" pours salt into the open wound!
◆) Dueling Parry
↺) Opportune Riposte as
Or so much as the fantasy promulgates!
What actually transpired, parallel to the fiction, was as follows: For having "stolen" a half-drunk drink from a half-drunk drunk, our hero had to dodge a series of haymakers, slipping in his own footing and falling backwards being the difference in angles glancing an otherwise cracker blow into a near miss, and still descending his torso backwards launching his delicately fashionable (if worn) heeled shoes (of a yesteryore decade) rightly up into the air, to crash positively into the groin of said assailant, who in excruciating pain, let's rip a feral yelp, before a flushing of red of the face, and with pain-intolerant masculinity, passing out from the sheer sensory overload of concentrated pain receptors.
And landing on the floor, having clutched victory like some errant pearl discovered upon the ground, our Modern Knight rises to claim what most nearby had failed to see the exact mechanism of circumstance, and instead, assumed a fair brawl had been won by a fair brawler!
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With a happy face and bright smile, a dwarf druid appears out into the scene. With his is a cute little leshy with a head of a pumpkin that always giggles when she is talked to by the druid. It seems they had this bond for so long.
He is a stout dwarf accessorized himself with leaves and vines, finds himself covered with leather armor and bearing a wooden shield, matched with a wooden staff and some assortment of daggers, healer's tools and a backpack. Included also are some pouches of berries and roots and herbs and other wonderful ingredients one can think of.
His name is Tandang Boreas and his leshy is aptly called Plantina. As they walk hand-in-hand happily, they come across with the others, especially another dwarf (Harsk).
"Hello, fellow dwarf. How are you? I have something for you." he tells the dwarf and gives one of his pouches that contains miracles of roots and herbs. "Take this, this is good for you, seriously. Helpful in warding off bad magic against you." he says with a wink.
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You all spend a nice evening at Drunken Dragon whether it is simply eating onion soup, throwing axes or star knives, singing odd songs, or fighting for a half-drunk mug of ale.
The atmosphere is mostly cheerful and besides a few incidents that were never proven to be your fault, are quickly forgotten.
Few patrons comment on Screech performance "Hey Chuck was that the bard that you ordered?" asked one and you see Chuck denying with a shake of his head. "I saw him hearing the goblin sing and he left." says Chuck raising his arms in surprise
The next day you head to the Lodge in Olfden, as you come closer you hear the cacophony of wolves howling. You must have come in time for feeding in the wolve sanctuary that is right behind the lodge. However, you do not find Luna there just a young lad telling you "Pathfinders? No Luna was supposed to meet you at Gold Falls Inn, a day trip north from Olfden. You should be able to catch a river barge."
With that information, you head to catch a river transport and hope that this time you will not meet the loggers.
The travel passes without any incidents and at the end of the day you enter the Gold Falls Inn, where most of you already stayed. In the common hall you see Luna, her yellow eyes looking at her shawl that she is making, her sword and staff standing next to the table. At times it is hard to see her the great warrior that she once was.
You come closer and she looks at you
"Ah Don Juri, Tandang. It is great to see you. How are you doing?" she asks the two Pathfinders that she knows nad then turns towards the others
"Pathfinders! I was afraid you wouldn’t make it on time, but we still may have a few minutes. Come, this way. Venture-Captain Luna Aldred pulls her knitted shawl close against the evening’s chill as she leads the way to a balcony.
"There. Isn’t it beautiful?" The setting sun has hit Gold Falls at the perfect angle to make the rushing waters and mist take on a spectacular orange glow.
"Of course, I didn’t call you here just to share the view. The Pathfinder Society has a big opportunity here in Darkmoon Vale. Our previous mission, that Don Juri and Tanrand were part of, into Droskar’s Crag disrupted a duergar raiding party and uncovered multiple passageways further into the mountain; I’m anxious to see what more we can learn here. I’ve also been working to improve our relationship with the locals. We aim to make this region safer and to recover what we can of the historical relics believed lost when Droskar’s Crag erupted. I’m hoping you can help with both goals and show the people of the region that the Society isn’t just here to find treasure and make trouble".
"Though the duergar attacks ceased after our last mission, the people of Darkmoon Vale still fear that the raiders might reappear. Our scouts found their camp in the ruins, and I’m sending you to investigate. Learn what happened to the duergar, and clear the area around their camp of anything dangerous. If you find any captives or their belongings, bring them back so they can be returned to their families. Take note of any significant historical discoveries, as well as tunnels that may lead deeper into the ruins, but save such passages for a future expedition—we need you to clear the way and find what our next opportunities might be first. Be prepared to share tales of what you discover when you return. Now, let’s eat!"
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”It is good to be back, Venture Captain.” Tandang replies with a hearty laugh. ”I did not expect I would return here, though I was wishing the Society will further that mission we accomplished back then, and look, I am here again!” he continues. ”I joined because I wanted to know more deeper into that ruins.” he adds before he goes enjoying the food.
”I just want to ask, would it be possible for us to meet those duergars again in the ruins? I hate them, those nasty raiders!” he asks Venture-Captain Luna.
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Zenith listens intently to the mission briefing but a light within their eye ignites at the mention of captives.
Zenith exclaims, "By the stars! On my travels here the stars told me in the future there would be fellowship and camaraderie, as well as a place for refuge for those in need. This tides good news. The Cosmic Caravan watches us, and we will help the forlorn return to a better life. This I am sure!"
With a big smile on their face, Zenith looks back down at their onion soup, picks up the bowl, and pours the remaining portion into their mouth.
So confident in the stars, Zenith does not feel the need to ask any questions.
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Ithuriel snorts, and quickly recomposes himself as the wooden door suddenly forms into a wooden mouth and begins speaking and Ithuriel quickly drops to a knee and hangs his head down low in reverence.
"Ithuriel... It seems you have arrived. You have walked many steps to arrive here. Do not displease me."
The mouth suddenly vanishes and Ithuriel rises. "God has spoken. I shall take to these caves with my faith to guide us." His golden halo slowly twirls upon his head.
...his Traveling Tailor tends to him with uninterrupted continuity "Master Don Jurri, please hold still while we I thread this..." SPLASH the barge crashes into water and the halfling hireling's needle perforates his shoulder which causes him to scream in pain "I'm sorry, master, I just with all this bobbing about..." SPLOOSH another prick "...oh there i've done it again, my apologies again master..." such is the back and forth the whole trip further north.
Upon arriving at the Gold Falls, Mister Smee's jaw drops as he takes in the beautiful sunset -
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"Ah, Luna, many moons have passed indeed, but weeping in your absence, that your grace hasn't recently blessed a room we have had occasion to enter!" a smooth voice like a honeyed cupcake, our Modern Knight lays the flattery upon the venture-captain, his charms working their subtle magic...
Another parallel fiction!
Instead, what Don Jurri must have said was more something like "Yes. Good to see you again too" simple, non-impolite, in proportion. He does, however, add his single query "Perhaps they have fled further in to the mountain. Or perhaps they were drawn there. In either case, I have a duergar friend who says..."
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”I just want to ask, would it be possible for us to meet those duergars again in the ruins? I hate them, those nasty raiders!” he asks Venture-Captain Luna.
Luna smiles to Tandang "It’s hard to say—no one has seen them for months. However, they were a fearsome lot, so if they’re gone, it might be because something worse moved in."
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”We go back in? Find deeper paths? What happened to fire dwarves from last time?”
Luna squints her eyes and looks at the goblin "Have we met before? All of you goblins look alike. Small green... Anyways you would go to different ruins, where we believe the duergars were. There used to be two great cities in the area, Jernashall and Raseri Kanton. The ruins you’ll be exploring are closer to Raseri Kanton, a trade city built near the surface that sunk into the ground during the Rending—that’s when Droskar’s Crag erupted, several centuries ago. We’re eager to see what we can learn or recover before it’s lost forever, whether to duergar raiders, another eruption, or worse."
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"Thanks good dwarf! I'll keep this handy!" Harsk turns to the VC. "Anything else besides the dark dwarves we have to worry about?"
Luna sighs "I can’t be sure. However, it’s a good guess there are creatures that thrive in the dark, or perhaps enjoy plundering the ruins themselves. If something did wipe out the duergars in that camp, I’m sure I don’t need to tell you it could be a threat to you, as well."
Zenith focuses on eating, not needing to ask any questions.
Ithuriel seems to be guided by the gods themselves and is ready to head to the ruins, while Don Juri wants to begin gathering gossips.
Before any of that happens Luna looks at Horsk and Screech "I am afraid that you two don't have clearance for the mission. You see, you failed to provide forms 2a, 3C-p4, and in the case of goblin friend a written approval from Puddles king. If you don't have them with you, the society will not pay you for the mission." the Venture-Captain looks at them angrily
A figure with golden skin and hair so bright it appears to be on fire enters the lobby from upstairs.
"I wondered when the next group of Pathfinders would show up," she says and smiles at Screech, Don Juri and Tandang.
"Screech I can see that you still carry that instrument of yours. Luna was complaining that you failed on some paper works, if I were you I would not try to annoy her. Luna is a bad-ass"
"Don Juri, have you settled, or still going all bravado head-first into troubles?"
"And Tandang and his leshy, it is good to see you."
"You helped me and my friends once, and I barely got to thank you. Perhaps I can repay my debt by helping you now."
"If you’re heading back to the Crag, be careful: Even the area your compatriots found me in was haunted by death. Fallen empires can leave behind far worse things than duergar. There’s a reason they call it ‘the Pallid Peak,’ after all. So many deaths occurred there, all at once—it sometimes felt like the walls themselves were haunted! I have always wondered if there was some other necromantic influence in that terrible place, even now"
You begin to analyze what you know about the ruins: the underground conditions, when combined with lingering magic from the ancient dwarven empire, may be a ripe spawning ground for many creatures: undead, aberrations and even constructs.
You also recall that it’s likely the practitioners of magic from ancient Tar Khadurrm harnessed the volcano’s power in their artisanry and spells. If this is true, any lingering magic in the ruins likely includes elements of heat or fire
You try to recall anything that you may know regarding dangers inside the caverns, you hear a conversation at the other table
"I tell you Gog, those were magically enhanced frogs and rats! They must have evolved to live in the hottest parts of volcanoes. They have been on the rise in recent years, every prospector will tell you that. And don't get me wrong, who is afraid of one rat, but the swarms they form can easily engulf you in flames"
Don Juri heads to listen to some gossips. He joins a table of some half-orc and a gnome speaking
"The closer I got to the volcano the more I saw creatures be resistant to fire damage and acid damage. I am sure it is thanks to the heat and sulfur that surround them."
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Tandang squints his eyes trying to remember who is the figure with golden skin and hair so bright it appears to be on fire. He knows she is one of the ifrits he met in the ruins but can remember her name.
”Oh, hello there! Nice to see you too!' Tandang says brightly with a hearty laugh, trying to be not obvious thst he can't remember her name. ”That is true, the Droskar's Crag's underground conditions seemed to combine with lingering magic from the ancient dwarven empire, spawning creatures such as undead, aberrations and even constructs. It’s likely the practitioners of magic from ancient Tar Khadurrm harnessed the volcano’s power in their artisanry and spells. Any lingering magic in the ruins could likely include elements of heat or fire.” he adds to confirm the ifrit's statement.
”Aren't you going with us?” he asks the golden-skinned figure.
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"If you’re heading back to the Crag, be careful: Even the area your compatriots found me in was haunted by death. Fallen empires can leave behind far worse things than duergar. There’s a reason they call it ‘the Pallid Peak,’ after all. So many deaths occurred there, all at once—it sometimes felt like the walls themselves were haunted! I have always wondered if there was some other necromantic influence in that terrible place, even now"
"Aye...'tis a bad place or so I've heard?" Harsk scratches his head.
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"Milady Yandrada..." Don Jurri refocuses his his charms with a deep and alluring curtsy, purposeful to demonstrate his grace and flexibility, as well as adherence to custom "...you are as radiant as ever. And no, I have not settled down, for how could I then share myself with the world?" his tone is playful the wink that accompanies it is subtle "How fares your comrades Rowsh and Slayse?" he had a knack for remembering names, and well as the interconnecting relationships surrounding them.
Fact or fiction? Who is to say!
In either case, Don Jurri, turning to his comrades shares what he knows "Where was I? Ah yes. My duergar friend. Newt was his name. He told me that there are volcano-dwelling creatures that, due to the heat and sulfer in high intensity, are immune to the effects of both? I should suggest that we prepare for this inevitable outcome!" this last insistence, because, according to him, he is never wrong. Don Jurri that is.
Finally, he turns to Harsk and Screetch, but projects his voice towards "Mister Smee!? Help them with that paperwork right away!"
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Mister Smee looks over forms 2a, 3C-p4 "Hmm... Ah yes... here.... here... and there..."
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Zenith listens intently to the nearby crowd and overhears some relevant information. They share with the rest of the group, "Sounds like there are magically enhanced frogs and rats, too! Or maybe they just evolved from the heat. One might not be an issue, but there could be many of them! Rest assured, we will seek out the captives and rescue them!"
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"Paperwork. Me pretty sure that Goblins is allergic to paperwork!" Screech digs in his packs, pulling out an odd assortment of bones, mostly rodent and bird, quills, lute strings (even though he doesn't have a lute), and other things. Finally, he pulls out a chewed on parchment that appears to be the needed paperwork. "Here it is. Me so sorry me forgot it. Was using it to wrap up a nice smoked trout. Was very tasty." It is clear that there are some fishy looking stains on the parchments as he hands them to Luna.
"Yandrada, me very happy you still alive. Them grey dwarves are very scary, but you not scary at all. Just like Screech!
"Oh, and me hear once that Droskar's Crag was just the after affect of Droskar feasting on too many beans, with fire peppers. Me try that once... couldn't walk for a week!"
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"That Ancient dwarven empire will make this ripe spawning ground for many undead, aberrations and constructs. The bodies of the dead have long been considered unclean and taboo." The angelic man sneers. "Due to the heat we should go prepared. I must commune with my God." He looks to find the market before departing to purchase a couple of scrolls of Resist Energy (Fire).
”Aren't you going with us?” he asks the golden-skinned figure.
"Oh no, I've spent enough of time in those cursed ruins before you found us. We found our place here."
"Milady Yandrada..." Don Jurri refocuses his his charms with a deep and alluring curtsy, purposeful to demonstrate his grace and flexibility, as well as adherence to custom "...you are as radiant as ever. And no, I have not settled down, for how could I then share myself with the world?" his tone is playful the wink that accompanies it is subtle "How fares your comrades Rowsh and Slayse?" he had a knack for remembering names, and well as the interconnecting relationships surrounding them.
"Oh Rowsh found a work nearby, he is becoming a farmer." she chuckles "He always liked tending to plants and fungus so he try to purse that passion. Slayse got some temporary job as a caravan guard and later on helped Luna in her wolf sanctuary."
Zenith shares what he heard, just like Ithuriel, who also buys two scrolls of resist energy.
Yandrada reaches to her bag and also gives you: three vials of holy water, wolf fang talisman and a lesser rope of climbing
At the same time, a dwarven bartender comes to Mister Smee and puts a huge mug of Goldenoak Pale Ale. "This is 'a big gale', at least this is how humans call it, as after drinking one they walk a bit funny. The best beverage from Goldenoak brewery, it is from the lady with yellow eyes." and with that, he goes away.
"Yandrada, me very happy you still alive. Them grey dwarves are very scary, but you not scary at all. Just like Screech!
"Oh, and me hear once that Droskar's Crag was just the after affect of Droskar feasting on too many beans, with fire peppers. Me try that once... couldn't walk for a week!"
Yandrada chuckles a bit at the last sentence from Screech. Luna gives you the keys
"It is late so sleep here, I ordered a room for everyone. The following day you should leave early."
You spend that evening in the Inn, knowing very well that when you go underground there is no saying how long you will be there. The next day the weather is nice for traveling so you depart after breakfast.
"There is nothing better for a hangover than a few hours of walking" says the drunken prospector leaving before you "maybe a good day of sleep, but who has time for that."
It takes you an hour to get to the entrance that some of you discovered during your last visit to Kazhlik. You head inside passing destroyed defensive constructs, and quickly take one of the tunnels heading deeper inside the mountain. After 10 minutes of walking mostly down nicely made dwarven corridor you discover that it collapsed and you need to squeeze to a side passage that looks more like a cave.
Pinpoints of light flashing in an irregular pattern are visible ahead. It’s unclear where the light is coming from until the party gets closer, at which point you discover large geode thousands of years in the making. Curiously, the geode is filled with luminescent mushrooms protruding from the crystal growths that are causing the crystals to glimmer.
The walls, ceilings, and floors of this area are natural stone. The ceilings are somewhat irregular, averaging 15 feet high. Smoky quartz glimmers from all sides of a massive geode on the southern wall of the passage, casting dim light in a 20-foot radius. The geode is difficult terrain.
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"Oh Rowsh found a work nearby, he is becoming a farmer." she chuckles "He always liked tending to plants and fungus so he try to purse that passion. Slayse got some temporary job as a caravan guard and later on helped Luna in her wolf sanctuary.""Milady Yandrada..." Don Jurri refocuses his his charms with a deep and alluring curtsy, purposeful to demonstrate his grace and flexibility, as well as adherence to custom "...you are as radiant as ever. And no, I have not settled down, for how could I then share myself with the world?" his tone is playful the wink that accompanies it is subtle "How fares your comrades Rowsh and Slayse?" he had a knack for remembering names, and well as the interconnecting relationships surrounding them.
"That is good to hear. Mister Smee! You were once a farmer, no?" to which the hireling shakes his head in the negative "Or a caravan guard was it?" again the hireling shakes his head "Oh well something like that" never having had a "job" in his privileged life before becoming a Pathfinder, Don Jurri imagines what such a menial position might entail for about whole second before moving along.
"This may come in handy, I imagine" he pockets one vial of holy water and coils the lesser rope of climbing around Mister Smee - the expression on the latter's face somehow abiding, hinting at some deeper connection that merely "buyer" and "seller"...
"Milady Yandrada, we take your leave" and in his head, he bent to kiss her hand and she to show delight at the gesture, but, that is probably not what happened in the least!
Inside the cave, Mister Smee reminds his master of his wayfinder "You were scared of the dark as a boy, here, let's activate this"
Shedding light like a torch, the illumination spreads from Don Jurri's neck.
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Inside the cave Ithuriel mutters a small prayer as a radiant magical light glows in his hands and across his body.
As he enters the darkness Ithuriels halo-like crown emits a bright and powerful light as it nearly illuminates the entire chamber. "As I said, nothing to worry about. Those who follow the steps of God will be rewarded with glory and riches." He smiles to comfort the others.
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Before retiring for the night, Zenith wanders outside and tries to find a suitable star gazing spot. They spend an hour gazing upon the stars trying to find any further guidance for their mission ahead. Later when returning to the inn, Zenith had a grim look no their face. helplessness...entropy...torture...the stars would not misguide me....Let's hope we are not too late.
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As he enters the darkness Ithuriels halo-like crown emits a bright and powerful light as it nearly illuminates the entire chamber. "As I said, nothing to worry about. Those who follow the steps of God will be rewarded with glory and riches." He smiles to comfort the others.
"Why limit yourself to one God when you can look to the stars and worship many?" asks Zenith as they keeps their eyes peeled for danger. Expecting trouble, they keep their starknife in hand.
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"Or Goddess!"
Don Jurri cuts into Ithuriel and Zenith's conversation uninvited "What is a star but a tiny fire? And what are a thousand tiny fires but a constellation of deeds? Where there is Chivalry, there will be heroes that rise! And: Are we those very heroes we seek? Every man has to ask himself this question. And one more: Do the deeds we perform in life echo back?"
Believing a tiny spark of The Inheritor lives within him, our Modern Knight makes his pitch, which he punctuates by drawing his finely crafted white-and-gold rapier, crossing it over his heart, and pointing it into the sky cave ceiling!
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"Oooh! Shinies ahead!" proclaims Screech. "You stay right by Screech, Tandang, and Screech keep you alive just fine. As me say, dem Lastwall Knights would be alive to day if dey only keep Screech with dem. Me is always good luck!"
"Psst. Don Julio think he a bard or sumthin'. Me show him good, me can sing songs to inspire. And me can toodle on my recorder!"
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"Or Goddess!"
Don Jurri cuts into Ithuriel and Zenith's conversation uninvited "What is a star but a tiny fire? And what are a thousand tiny fires but a constellation of deeds? Where there is Chivalry, there will be heroes that rise! And: Are we those very heroes we seek? Every man has to ask himself this question. And one more: Do the deeds we perform in life echo back?"
Zenith nods at the mention of Goddess and listens intently. Their eyes are fierce as they consider the merit of constellations within a fire.
Ithuriel looks confused by this statement. "Because there is only one true God. The Living God Razmir of course. I have descended from the heavens to help him achieve true divinity." The angelic being bows deeply.
More confused yet, is Zenith's response to Ithuriel. Starting slowly, "I...have...not...seen...this Razmir within the Sky? How can one claim to be a God, or Goddess, if they do not dwell in the sky?"
They continue to share their views, "I worship the Cosmic Carvan, these Gods, and Goddesses, I can see in the sky, they guide me on lost nights. And sometimes still, they speak loudly which I am reminded each time I grip my starknife." They pause to grip the starknife, and clutch their moon shaped medallion worn around their neck. "It was delivered to me by the night's sky! Still, if I were to choose one to follow, it would be Desna. She gives hope to the lost and forlorn. This I know. I have seen it!
Ithuriel and Zenith begin the conversation about deities. Screech speaks to Don Juri about his fighting prowess and try to put some hope into their hearts. Don Juri turns on his Wayfinder and jumps into the deity conversation.
You can feel the tension in the air, it could be the place or the fact that you have been walking underground for a while already. Shineing geode does not make anything better. Harsk makes a comment about the rocks and gently taps it with his ax Clang. The sound despite barely audible seems to carry through the cave and come back to you. All of you stop speaking and listen ... finally the sound dies out.
"Clang clag" you can hear it clearly but the sound is different. Like two pieces of metal clashing into each other
Tandang brings four floating lights to show them what lies ahead.
Further ahead stands a small, armored humanoid, and it clashes their sword into shield looking at you angrily.
The ones that see in the dark, can spot and hear a lot of wings behind the armored creature.
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BOLD IS UP!:
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➤ Zenith
➤ Screech
Yellow Undead Caveman
Red Cavebatman swarm
Tandang Boreas
Don Juri
Green Cavebatman swarm
Blue Cavebatman
Ithuriel
Harsk
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Zenith looks down the tunnel and estimates distances. Too far for anything fabulous... They think as they rush into the dancing lights, then continue towards the caveman and outstretch their free hand to Grapple the boney foe.
Zenith runs forwards and grabs solidly the undead. He must have gotten a great hold as his undead opponent can't attack him
Screech moves forwards, sings a song, and takes out his weapon of mass stabbing.
Undead wiggles and pushes Zenith away, breaking free from his hold, then they strike Zenith with the sword
But misses, then they raise their shield.
The swarm of bats flies and attacks Zenith twice
The small bites begin o bite their arms and face, ignoring the undead. It is almost like they were after Zenith's blood.
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BOLD IS UP!:
──────────
Zenith
Screech
Yellow Undead Caveman
Red Cavebatman swarm
➤ Tandang Boreas
➤ Don Juri
Green Cavebatman swarm
Blue Cavebatman
Ithuriel
Harsk
|
|
What are they thinking?! Why can't they wait for us? They will kill themselves.” Tandang begins to walk his stubby self while his leshy follows behind and sustains the dancing lights further and deeper into the caverns. He is not sure he must be worried for them because it seems Zenith manages to deal against the swarm and the undead.
◆ Sustain a Spell, Dancing Lights
◆ Stride
◆ Stride
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|
"Don't worry little friend - Come one, come all, brave compatriots. Dally not! This cave has spoken ill, and it's tongue shall be cut!"
In his mind, the poetry of action flows, and strident, our chivalric hero dashes to Zenith's side, sword whirling in a display of penmanship, like a signature with full-bossomed loops and curls delicately laid with perfectly moist ink: Don Jurri looks to exploit any gap in his now-adjacent foe's defense with expert retaliation!
◆) Dueling Parry
◆◆) Stride x2
↺) Opportune Riposte
LINK
Trigger A foe within your reach critically fails a Strike against you.
You take advantage of an opening from your enemy's fumbled attack. You either make a melee Strike against the triggering foe or attempt to Disarm it of the weapon it used for the Strike.
Zenith dodges every bite that was targeting their's neck and face, they come unscarred from the swarm's assault.
Tandang sustains the lights and moves forwards, his short dwarven legs bringing him closer towards where the action is.
Don Jurri keeps his parry up and moves towards Zenith
The other swarm flies above the undead and goes for the newcomer Don Jurri
The giant bat flies forwards but can't find a spot for themselves so attacks using their superior reach
But Zenith dodges the attack with no troubles.
──────────
BOLD IS UP!:
──────────
➤ Zenith
➤ Screech
Yellow Undead Caveman
Red Cavebatman swarm
Tandang Boreas
Don Juri
Green Cavebatman swarm
Blue Cavebatman
➤ Ithuriel
➤ Harsk