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1) I am based in Southeast Asia (UTC +8) so my posting hours may be unusual (especially for those in North America). I usually update at least one or twice per day. Just to keep the game moving, please post at least once every day and at least once during the weekend.
2) Please label all three of your actions. Even if you think what you are doing is obvious.
3) If I am unavailable for longer than 24 hours, I will let you know in the Discussion Tab. Out of respect for your fellow players and myself, I ask that you do the same. Real life happens, and real life will always take priority over the game, but out of fairness for your fellow players, please let us know if you will be unavailable for an extended period of time.
4) Please note that on the following days, my posting can get unpredictable:
Tuesday/Thursdays - all day, as they are the 2 busiest days of my work week
4) Please complete the Macros and the Slides linked at the top of the page.
5) Questions, concerns? Feel free to share them in the Discussion tab.
6) Let's have some fun and tell a great story together! After all, that's what we are here for.
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You have traveled by river boat up the East Sellen river to Restov, the capital of Brevoy. As you disembark, Marcos Farabellus greets you on the docks. He is a man of sturdy build with a bald head and a full beard.
"Ah, agents! So very good to see you! Welcome to Restov. I hope your journey wasn't too bothersome. This time of year the mosquitoes on the Sellen can be worse than falling face first and buck naked into a patch of poison ivy." Marcos punctuates his own jest with a bellowing laugh. "Let's get you all a bit freshened up before I get to the heart of the matter."
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"Bah...a few bugs are the least of our concerns on a good day!"[/b] growls a towering orc of muscular build. However, his skin has the luster of bronze and his eyes are a glimmering blue. He carries a large blade with glimmering grooves of multicolored metal on his back.
He looks around at the others present and nods.
"Shutek. Point me at whatever needs to be dealt with."
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A thin-armed gnome wearing a top hat and a matching brown justaucorps with knee-high leather boots disembarks. He looks like a dandy and is visibly armed only with hand crossbow. He carries a haversack at his back. Perceptive people will suspect that one of the boots may hide a knife.
"Well-met! I am Orsis Warbo. What a great day this is going to be! This is my first Pathfinder assignment! And I've been tasked to report to you - master Farabellus."
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>>backflips onto the docks<<
"Hisaki" he announces his name - an armored hobgoblin with a wickedly large bow / crossbow hybrid weapon sporting a long-handled long-sword sheathed on his back and wearing wildly decorated armor - he tip-toes last minute into the crew, arriving just in time, his two-toed soft shoes silent across the wet wood...
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Marcos leads you to a nearby street vendor who sells fried fish and vegetables. He buys each of you a portion and buys himself a skewer of crayfish. While everyone eats and walks, he elaborates on the mission.
"First off, thank you for coming. This is a bit of an unusual ‘mission', so let me get right to it. I received a challenge recently from Orlaelia Aldori. She's an up-and-coming swordmaster here in Restov. Claims her students are capable of besting any of mine. Now, I get challenges like that all the time, and normally I ignore them. But this time? Well, there's a little bit more to it. A double-edged sword, so to speak." He lets out a small chuckle. "Which is apt, because one of these extras is a sword. Orlaelia has bet Inheritor's Fury, her old longsword, on this deal. She used to be a Mendevian crusader, you see, and the sword has seen the depths of the Worldwound. It's a relic in its own right and an item the Society would love to study in depth, not to mention a valuable piece of modern history deserving proper cataloging and preservation."
"While the pursuit of a relic alone would not merit taking you away from your other duties, this challenge also gives us a chance to make new friends and acquaintances in Restov. It's been a while since the society had an active presence here. Rising to this challenge could give us a friendly rival at worst and some new friends at best."
"Orlaelia, though a veteran of many battles, is still Taldan at heart, from what I know at least, and still loves the arts. So! While this challenge will culminate in a duel between you and her students, she will most likely have a few other tests in mind that go beyond raw combat. Who can say what they'll be. From what I hear her style is quite practical, but old veterans like us see lessons in the strangest of places." He smiles, perhaps thinking of similar examples from his own past, though doesn't elaborate further. "I've opened up Birchwood Hall, our lodge here. Haven't managed to get all the damp and dust out yet, but that shouldn't bother us overmuch. I'm sure you've all seen much worse during your travels."
You arrive at Birchwood Hall just as Marcos finishes speaking. He leads you inside the building, through the main sitting room and into a wood paneled conference room. There's a faint smell of dust in the air that the open windows have yet to dispel.
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While getting the Lodge in order, Marcos turns to you with a serious expression. "Now then, I just need to remind you, you represent the Society here. So you'd best be on your best behavior. You may be deceitful if the situation demands it but I will not tolerate any attempt to undermine these events."
As he finishes his warning, a loud knock is heard. He beckons you follow him to the front sitting room where he 'asks you to look grand'...
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Siyokoy nods, but positions himself behind Marcos, initially not attempting to exude grandeur. However, as they approach the front sitting room, their gait transforms into a more formal and dignified stride.
He then takes a courteous bow to their host. "My name is Siyokoy. It is an honor to meet you."
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Marcos opens the door with an air of nervousness. A party of five waits outside, led by a middle-aged woman with her dark hair pulled back into a simple knot. She wears woolen trousers beneath her sensible skirts and a thick leather jerkin with an emblem embroidered on the right side.
"Marcos Farabellus!" the woman grins widely and gives him a firm--and long--handshake. While this extended handshake goes on, you take note that the four students behind her wear similar jerkins. All carry a distinctive Aldori dueling sword strapped to their hips.
Orlaelia Aldori looks you over as she lets go of Marcos' hand and enters with her students trailing behind her. "I thought you said there were five?" she asks. "Don't expect us to go easy on you," she adds with a competitive twinkle in her eye. "Students. Introduce yourselves."
The first to introduce herself is a half orc woman with long black hair in an intricate braid. She wears her school jerkin partially open to reveal a spotless white blouse underneath. Her pants are a light brown linen and don’t show a crease out of place. "I am Dura Aldori," she says and throws a wink at Siyokoy.
A human man in his late twenties with short brown hair steps up next. "I am Halran Aldori," he says and gives you a fancy bow. He completes his school jerkin with riding pants and boots and wears a single pearl earring in his right ear.
"I am Rhenei Aldori," a white and gray furred ysoki says brusquely as they give an equally curt curtsy. Their school jerkin has a few extra pockets sewn on and they wear colorful layered skirts along with wraps around their back paws, leaving the toes open.
The final student, a gnome with golden hair in a bowl cut that looks as if she performed it herself, practically thrums with energy. She looks ready to explode into a thousand questions, but ends up saying, "Thisnabel Aldori! I am. Me. That's me, I mean." Her school jerkin looks as if it had several minor accidents with various substances and bears odd stains. She wears practical leather pants laced up down the sides and leather boots which have seen better days.
Marcos turns to you and says, "And my Pathfinders are..."
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"Well met, Pathfinders. I am Orlaelia Aldori and I have heard of your exploits. Although we will duel eventually, there are other aspects of your training I would like to test my students on. My experiences in the crusades fighting demons have taught me that to not only survive, but win decisively, one needs more than a strong sword arm and quick reflexes. I therefore propose three challenges. The third challenge is obviously the duel between my students and yourselves. I will let you choose the first two challenges."
Challenges:
The swordlord goes on to describe several tests of various skills both physical and mental. "A flyting, bragging, and insult competition to demonstrate each contestant's wit. Unnerving your opponent can win a battle before it is even fought." She explains the rules to you ().
"A good poem can impress friends and allies and discredit an enemy, giving an advantage before a duel even starts. Each team could craft a poem." (
To test everyone's physical prowess without resorting to duels, Orlaelia likes a good, old-fashioned tug of war. It not only tests raw strength, but also teamwork and steadiness.([ooc]Over several rounds, each of you makes an Acrobatics check to keep your footing, Athletics check to pull the rope, or Diplomacy or Perform to motivate your teammates.)
"During official duels and training matches there is always a first aid professional close by; however, by their nature duelists usually aren’t so lucky when accepting a challenge in the heat of the moment outside of such formal settings. I have seen enough of her friends and comrades die in the Worldwound before first aid could reach them. It’s always best to be prepared and have someone on your team trained to save your life." ()
"Sometimes you have to take down an opponent in an unconventional way, without harming them." ()
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A sturdy pet carrier is delivered to the lodge. Orlaelia carefully and gently brings it to the lodge’s garden, as growling and yowling noises emerge from inside.
She explains, "sometimes you have to take down an opponent in an unconventional way, without harming them." To help simulate that, Mephisto will be their rather unwilling target. They need to capture him and make sure he stays in his crate without harming him. He is clearly none too pleased to be here, adding to the challenge.
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“Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt!”
On his turn, our shady shinobi tips on his two-toed booties, and whispering a few secret words, slips into a shadow, purple energy hologramming each of his steps into divided timelengths, stalking like a lurker from the netherworld. He makes his pursuit of the feline!
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Orsis removes his hat, coat and boots and goes looking for Mephisto. He becomes one with the shadows and finds the cat in the bushes. With a quick strike, he grabs the squirming yowling cat and quickly carries him back to the cat carrier. Mephisto manages to squirm free and rockets back into the bushes. Thisnabel attempts to copy Orsis' method but she accidentally slips on a wet patch of grass and falls on her butt. From afar, it almost seems like Mephisto is laughing at her.
Hadrimos sees Mephisto and also becomes one with the shadows. He stalks his smaller counterpart and manages to sneak up on him while Mephisto is crouching in a bush looking in the opposite direction. He slowly reaches into the bush and picks up the cat before Mephisto even realizes that Hadrimos is there. Mephisto again squirms free and darts back into the shrubbery as Hadrimos is about to drop him into the cat carrier. Halran decides to abandon all semblance of stealth and goes for the brute force approach. He dives into the bush and attempts to wrestle Mephisto into submission. The bush appears to come to life as the battle royal rages. Halran emerges, his face and arms a mess of scratches but no cat. "Guess that didn't work, " he says ruefully.
Hisaki sees where Mephisto is hiding and heads towards the bush in a roundabout way. He casts a spell on himself, creating many copies of his arm, which confuse Mephisto into not knowing where (or how) he will be grabbed. Suddenly, Hisaki's arm snaps out and grabs the feline by the scruff of the neck, catching Mephisto totally by surprise. Mephisto yowls and squirms but is unable to get free. Hisaki drops Mephisto on the ground where he takes off into the bushes once more. Rhenei winks at his fellow students. "Maybe I should just appeal to his instincts" The ysoki heads into the bushes and mimics Mephisto's prey (mice), hoping to coax the cat to him. Suddenly, Rhenei lets out a scream and runs for the nearest tree, Mephisto hot on his heels. He manages to get up into the branches while Orlaelia and the other students howl with laughter.
Marcos roars in triumph as Mephisto finally returns to his cat carrier, where, exhausted from his exertion, quietly enters and falls asleep. Dura closes the door and locks it.
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Marcos and Oraelia now produce a rope and bid you to follow them. They lead you to the front lawn where two lines are drawn in the grass in front of the lodge, 30 feet apart. A ribbon is tied at the center of the rope and the rope is laid at the midpoint between the lines. The students take up one end of the rope and you take up the other end. The goal is to pull the ribbon completely over a team's line.
Marcos and Oraelia give the signal. ""
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DD-99 pulls. The ribbon moves 5' to your side.
DD-99 leans back hard, causing the ribbon to surge over to the Pathfinder line. The students are leaning back and pulling with all their strength. Shutek heaves back and adds his weight and muscle to the effort. The ribbon draws even nearer the Pathfinder line. Hadrimos' claws dig into the ground and the catfolk pulls with all his strength, encouraged by Hisaki's cadence. The entire Pathfinder side is now pulling as one. The rope moves closer to the line. Suddenly the line goes slack and you all go flying back in a tangle of arms and legs as the students let go. The ribbon crosses the line. Pathfinders win!!
Marcos roars in triumph and Orlaelia covers her face with her hands.
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Finally, Orlaelia calls a halt to the proceedings.
"Well done to both groups! We shall have a little refreshment to recharge ourselves. While we eat, two ritualists will cast a ritual to ensure that any damage done in the sparring room is nonlethal. The ritual takes an hour to cast so you can also use that to refresh yourselves. After all, " she says with a wink, "I would not want Marcos here to complain that I did not give you ample time to rest."
She turns to Marcos, saying, "I know that this lodge is unstaffed, old friend. So I took the liberty of having some food delivered." Fresh baked bread, vegetable soup, and sausages are all brought in, still hot and steaming.
Marcos nods jovially before proclaiming, "Enough talk! Let's eat!"
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Orsis gets on a stool after grabbing a wineglass, taps a fork to it to catch everyone's attention. says "A big thank you to our mentor Marcos Farabellus, for allowing us all to be here. Thank you to Lady Orlaelia Aldori for bringing your most excellent students with you. To your our fellow combatants, CHEERS!!!" He then raises his glass, takes a sip, and goes down the stool.
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About an hour after the beginning of the feast, Orlaelia stands and claps her hands once to get everyone's attention. Smiling at the success of the exercises so far, she says, "Now that the food has had a chance to settle, and everyone has had a chance to rest and relax a bit, we should move to your final challenge." She looks to Marcos.
The Master of Blades nods, and he takes over what is obviously a rehearsed speech. "Aldori students, Pathfinders, both of you have demonstrated skill and creativity, but there's no test like a real fight. And so, that's what the last challenge will be."
Orlaelia then again takes the lead. "Of course, a combat where you had to hold back would hardly be a fair assessment, so we've had a special ritual cast over the combat arena. Fight to your hearts content, for none of the damage or injuries suffered therein can be lasting or lethal. Your test will be a fight, one group against the other. Defeat only comes when all on your team are unable or unwilling to continue. Show us what we've taught you!" Her students are surprised, and their nerves show through briefly before they quickly compose themselves. Noticing this, Orlaelia adds "I know you were expecting single combat, but if you only ever fight the same fight, you'll never grow."
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COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 1
Tactical Map
Special Conditions: Non-lethal combat; 0 hp is 'dead'
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Those with ** may go
**Hisaki - AC 19, 26/26
**Shutek Niel - AC 18 (17 raging), 25/25
Thisnabel
Dura
Siyokoy Sa Lupa - AC 17 (18 w/Hydraulic Deflection), 20/20
DD-99 - AC 16 (19 mountain stance), 19/19
Rhenei
Halran
Orsis Warbo - AC 15, 17/17
Hadrimos - AC 19, 19/19