|
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.
|
Krarsak cautiously enters the meeting room first. He is a dirt-covered dwarf with bright red beard and hair overlapping his leather armor. Stark, contrasting black devilish horns curl back from his forehead behind his ears as the ends are tinted in reddish-white hellfire. His legs are bent at a backwards angle as they too end in devilish hooves. Walking in he finds a small chair and takes a seat.
|
While not impossible to find in a port city such as Katapesh, most gillmen would find the arid climate dangerous to explore for more than a day. However, one of the deep dwelling azarketi presents himself for assignment despite this.
The gillman has mat black, hairless skin and milky white irises. He wears reinforced leather armor and a damp shemagh. His pack is full and ready for travel, but he bears no weapons.
"Greetings," he says. "My name is Isurus. I do not believe that I have taken assignment with any of you before." Bioluminescent spots flicker across the back of his hands and then a fine mist blooms around him. He summons a puddle of water in his hand and pours it over his shemagh. "I emigrated to the surface and Absalom from the Arcadian Ocean."
|
|
A petite young woman with burgundy hair glides into the room, humming a quick tune. She gives a dazzling smile to those in the room and speaks in a bit of a husky voice. "Well, hello strangers!" She gives a wink and you notice that one of her eyes is a vibrant green while the other is a soft brown.
She laughs and her voice changes to a peppy tone. "I'm Gwen. What are we doing today?" She wears no armor, but a simple mace strapped to her hip and a dagger at the small of her back. A scarf is tied around her neck.
|
An elderly half-orc, walking stick in hand and covered in hot furs, hobbles into the room.
Why hello all. M'name is Thistledown, but most people just call me Grammy, nice to meet you. Oh deary me, my but it's hot. I'm gonna take off m'armor if'n it's all the same to you. I know I should respect all of Golarion's natural wonders, but I think I respect the desert the least."
|
|
Yigrig Moneymaker, the powerful goblin merchant, slumps in a large chair. His face, normally so proud and assured, looks troubled. "It’s good to see you, Pathfinders! I have a lot of respect for the Society. You’ve been good to me in the past, and my family has aided you in return. But today I come before you, my hat in my hands, in need of help."
"My family and I have almost brokered a trade agreement between the cities of Solku and Oenopion. It’s a beneficial deal, one where Solku gains the materials it needs to defend itself, Oenopion gains a new trading partner, and everyone stands to make a heap of coin. There’s only one issue standing in the way of the negotiation being finalized: a bridge must be constructed over the Elemion River to facilitate safe travel between the two cities. My family is responsible for building and maintaining this bridge. It should have been a simple job… easy to pull off."
"It has been anything but easy."
The old goblin leans forward. "Every morning at the work camp, it is discovered that more of my children have been pulled from their beds in the night, presumed dead. Every shipment of aid I send gets attacked. The last one I sent did not even arrive."
"There is a lot of money riding on this deal, but I admit this isn’t about money anymore. This is personal. Someone is harming my family and I can’t sit by and let that happen. I have contracted the Pathfinder Society to protect the bridge and surrounding work camp while construction is completed. I have a caravan ready to leave, filled with new workers and supplies for the bridge site. I want you on it. When you see it safely to the bridge site, I need you to stop the attacks on the camp by any means necessary until the job is complete. When you get to the work camp, you will meet my son Zig, the overseer of the project. Sweet kid… takes after his old man. He’ll be your liaison with the workers and see to your needs."
"Nothing is more important than family. Nothing. And so, I’m asking you to take care of mine. Our future is in your hands. Any questions?"
|
|
"Wait, they're taking kids?!" Gwen drops her flirty tone and starts to sound angry. "I've heard that area can be filled with wild beasts like lions, panthers, dire wolves, and more. And I guess small goblins could be an easy meal, but that awful!" She holds her hand up and flames surround it for an instant.
"Count me in, Moneymaker."
|
|
After finish talking to Yigrig, he leads you to a goblin caravan. The goblin caravan consists of 4 Huge wagons and 20 nervous goblin workers. It also contains a trove supplies including wooden beams and food. The leader of the caravan is a goblin named Muckmuck, who remains terrified of his responsibilities and fearful of what could happen on the ensuing journey. He has little to say to you and doesn’t contribute much beyond driving the caravan. Because many goblins loathe horses, the caravan’s wagons are pulled by camels.
Muckmuck laughs to himself.
"You longshanks think you can protect us? You can’t save Muckmuck. You’re weak. Face facts. We’re all going to die."
"You sit there in the back and talk to the workers. We’re all scared. Doesn’t matter what we do. We’re all going to die."
"Tell you truth, I don’t want to go. Yigrig reads too many books. He’s lost his mind. We all think about leaving before he gets us killed. Not help that the minstrel lost hand in teethbrushing accident. Much blood. Can’t play lute anymore."
"Tell you what. You want to help? You be the minstrel. Make fancy music. Make goblins feel less likely to run away. Convince them we’re not all going to die."
|
|
"We are not without our skills," Isurus says, changing the pattern of lights on his face and arms. He concentrates a moment as he summons a fine mist in the air around himself. "Let me show you what I can do."
Though his gait is broad-based and slow compared to the goblins, his life in a three-dimensional environment provides his with a spatial awareness to compensate as he moves deftly through the mill of nervous goblins. On the other side of the goblins, he lifts his hands to meet over his head and releases a tall fan of water into the air that falls down like a light rain.
"Hopefully, you appreciate the water in this arid land at least half as much as I do. This water can protect you as well as cool the day's heat and quench your thirst."
|
|
Gwen snickers at Muckmuck. She stretches her cheeks in an weird approximation of his goblin head and drops to her knees to appear shorter. Her voice turns raspy. "No one can save Muckmuck! We're all doomed! I need a longshanks minstrel to make us feel better...someone without pointy teeth!"
She recovers and laughs. It's an infectious laugh with a harsh point to it. "Muckmuck has gone all doom and gloom already!"
|
|
Isurus performs for the goblins. They are impressed with the water show. ()
Grammy climbs up a tree, something the goblins never expected from an old orc. ()
Gwen does a great impression of Muckmuck that causes the goblins to howl with laughter, though Muckmuck doesn't look pleased. ()
Jig pretends to be a minstrel but is lucky that none of the goblins are offended by his act. ()
Krarsak tries to fix the wagon but is unable to lift the loaded wagon. The goblins are not impressed but they're not offended either... ()
|
|
As you approach the bridge site, you notice a band of ne'er do wells waiting for you. They don't appear to want to have a friendly chat. At the sight of the bandits, the goblins all scatter and hide.
------------------
COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 1
Tactical Map
------------------
Those with ** may go
**Isurus - AC 19 (20 w/shield), 32/32
**Gwen - AC 17, 20/20
Pink w/ White Shirt
Blue
Krarsak - AC 17, 22/22
Grammy - AC 17 (19 w/shield), 26/26
Square
Red
Yellow
Pink
Jig Gnasher - AC 19, 26/26
|
|
As the bandits make their intentions known and the goblins scatter, Isurus places his hands together. His bioluminescent markings flicker as he concentrates to summon a fine mist that slowly swirls around him.
He raises one hand and motions with the other hand as if drawing a bow, and the water coalesces in the form of a longbow. He releases the string made of water droplets and fires a long, thin shaft of ice across the desert. He quickly draws and fires another before the bow melts back into the mist.
|
|
Gwen hops down from the cart, then runs and hides.
Isurus channels water and shoots it at one of the bandits. His second attack hits but does minimal damage.
Blue closes with the group but stops short and pulls out a vial from a pouch. Another bandit also closes with the group, but runs out of time before he can do anything else.
------------------
COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 1
Tactical Map
------------------
Those with ** may go
Isurus - AC 19 (20 w/shield), 32/32
Gwen - AC 17, 20/20 (AC 19)
Pink w/ White Shirt
Blue (-1)
**Krarsak - AC 17, 22/22
**Grammy - AC 17 (19 w/shield), 26/26
Square
Red
Yellow
Pink
Jig Gnasher - AC 19, 26/26
|
|
Krarsak grows angry as the bandits try to rob them. "These the ones taking your children?" Hellish flames crawl across his skin. It coalesces and sharpens around his devilish horns as a small ball of flames fires off at one of the bandits.
Concentrating he pushes the flames down inot his hooves as he is propelled at a great rate of speed across the sand.
HP 22/22
AC 17
Hero Point 3/3
|
|
Krarsak launches fire at Blue Square but doesn't connect. Grammy complains about the heat and sends lightning at the two closest bandits. Neither sees it coming and take the full zap.
Blue Square charges Krarsak and tries to punch his lights out....
... and misses by a mile.
Yellow moves forward, draws a shortbow and lets fly at Krarsak.
His arrow flies over Krarsak's head...
Pink Circle also moves up, draws a shortbow and shoots Krarsak.
Finally Red moves up and tries to shoot Krarsak with his bow.
The arrow hits but bounces off Krarsak's arm, leaving a small wound.
------------------
COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 1-2
Tactical Map
------------------
Those with ** may go
-2-
**Isurus - AC 19 (20 w/shield), 32/32
**Gwen - AC 17, 20/20 (AC 19)
Pink w/ White Shirt (-8)
Blue Circle (-9)
Krarsak - AC 17, 20/22
Grammy - AC 17 (19 w/shield), 26/26
Blue Square
Red
Yellow
Pink
-1-
**Jig Gnasher - AC 19, 26/26
|
|
The azarketi elementalist conjures a shorter, stouter bow out of water as he draws his hand back. He releases a swirling spiral of frigid, benthic ocean water at the nearer brigand . The force pushes the brigand back .
With his target now further away, the water bow grows in length, and Isurus fires a sizzling shaft of water, but it glances against the side of one of the wagons.
◇ Weapon Infusion (50 ft range increment, propulsive)
◇ Weapon Infusion (100 ft range increment, volley 30 ft)
|
|
Jig jumps up onto a rock and draws a bead on the white-shirted bandit. He causes a small fireball to appear on the arrow's tip before letting fly. Unfortunately, he barely misses the white-shirted bandit, his arrow burning a hole in the sleeve instead of hitting anything.
Isurus sends a jet of cold water at Blue Circle and caves in his chest cavity. He sends a second blast against pink Circle but misses by a mile.
------------------
COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 2
Tactical Map
------------------
Those with ** may go
Isurus - AC 19 (20 w/shield), 32/32
**Gwen - AC 17, 20/20 (AC 19)
Pink w/ White Shirt (-8)
Blue Circle
Krarsak - AC 17, 20/22
Grammy - AC 17 (19 w/shield), 26/26
Blue Square (-1)
Red
Yellow
Pink
Jig Gnasher - AC 19, 26/26
|
|
Gwen peeks her head out and sees most of th bandits keeping their distance. "Well, there goes that idea!"
She sighs until she spots the two in white who are closer. "Really? You're wearing white at this time of the year?! You deserve this!" Her eyes flash with feral violence as she unleashes an arc of lightning at them.
|
|
The guy with the white shirt laughs at Gwen's attempt to intimidate him. He stops laughing when her lightning fries him.
------------------
COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 2
Tactical Map
------------------
Those with ** may go
Isurus - AC 19 (20 w/shield), 32/32
Gwen - AC 17, 20/20 (AC 19)
Pink w/ White Shirt
**Krarsak - AC 17, 20/22
**Grammy - AC 17 (19 w/shield), 26/26
Blue Square (-1)
Red
Yellow
Pink
Jig Gnasher - AC 19, 26/26
|
|
Pink doesn't get out of the way in time and gets a nasty steam bath from Krarsak. Red and Yellow manage to avoid the bulk of the damage and escape with some light burns. Blue manages to dodge Grammy's lightning and walks away with some of his hair standing on end.
Blue Square runs towards the wagons and pulls something out of his tunic.
Pink closes with the wagons. He turns and shoots
Yellow turns to Red. "You go do what we came ta do! I'll hold 'im off!" Yellow drops his bow, draws his sword, steps up to Krarsak and attempts to poke him with it.
Red also drops his bow, pulls out his sword, then runs into a flank with Krarsak. He also snarls back to Yellow, "Ya don't order me 'round! Yer not our boss!"
------------------
COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 2
Tactical Map
------------------
Those with ** may go
-3-
**Isurus - AC 19 (20 w/shield), 27/32
**Gwen - AC 17, 20/20 (AC 19)
**Krarsak - AC 17, 8/22
**Grammy - AC 17 (19 w/shield), 26/26
Blue Square (-4)
Red (-2)
Yellow (-2)
Pink (-4)
-2-
**Jig Gnasher - AC 19, 26/26
|
|
Gwen sends lightning at the two bandits, disagreeing with their fashion choices. Pink appears to have made the wrong choice of apparel as he is fried. Blue escapes but is staggered by the jolt.
Jig fires another fire arrow at the White-Shirted bandit but he appears to live a charmed life... However, the look in Blue's face appears to tell that he's currently regretting falling in with this lot.
------------------
COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 2
Tactical Map
------------------
Those with ** may go
**Isurus - AC 19 (20 w/shield), 27/32
Gwen - AC 17, 20/20 (AC 19)
**Krarsak - AC 17, 8/22
**Grammy - AC 17 (19 w/shield), 26/26
Blue Square (-7)
Red (-2)
Yellow (-2)
Jig Gnasher - AC 19, 26/26
|
|
Isurus turns Blue's white shirt crimson as he runs him through with an icy spear.
------------------
COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 2
Tactical Map
------------------
Those with ** may go
Isurus - AC 19 (20 w/shield), 27/32
Gwen - AC 17, 20/20 (AC 19)
**Krarsak - AC 17, 8/22
**Grammy - AC 17 (19 w/shield), 26/26
Red (-2)
Yellow (-2)
Jig Gnasher - AC 19, 26/26
|
|
Yellow doesn't get out of the way of Grammy's lightning and becomes a human lightning rod. He would have made it out of the fight alive had it not for Krarsak's little fireball, which drops him. Red manages to avoid the worst of the lightning and the fireball. He decides that discretion is the better part of valor and makes a break for it.
You find the bandits' weapons cache, which consists of bolas, a khopesh and a fighting fan
|
|
With not much else to go on apart from collecting the spoils of the bandits, you return to the wagons and eventually make your way to the bridge camp.
You arrive at the camp and find it bustling with activity. Goblin engineers do their best to guide goblin workers as they build the decking and assemble the piers; the bridge appears simple, but sturdy, and is approximately half complete by this point.
As the wagons are unloaded, Muckmuck shows you to Zig, leader of the bridge camp.
While many of the goblins at the work camp are covered in dirt and sweat, Zig stands tall and straight among them. He pours over maps of the surrounding area before speaking.
"It is good to see you. They call me Zig. I’m glad my father asked you to come here to help."
"We have been building a very important bridge. But every night, the big cats attack our camp. We leave out meat for them and they saunter right past it. Instead, they seem bent on filling their bellies with goblin flesh. If we move camp across the river; they cross over it overnight. If we light fires around the camp to scare them away, the goblins workers burn themselves in the flames. It’s a lose-lose situation."
"Every few nights, the cats come back to hunt us. Everyone is terrified and that’s bad for business. With all this talk of some saber-toothed whatever coming for us in the night, we’re all too scared to finish our work. If someone doesn’t take these furballs out, I suspect the bridge isn’t ever gonna get built."
"These kitties aren’t natural. Whatever you need, you got it. I can give you workers to build fences. But fences alone aren’t going to be enough. Either the cats go, or this bridge is history. The only other answer is death."
The camp is mostly filled with goblin workers, most of whom do not speak Common and are too busy to talk to you. The areas of note in the camp are the supply depot (where tools and materials are kept for building the bridge), the mess hall (where Zig works and food is stored), the infirmary (where sick or injured goblins are cared for), and the tents where each goblin sleeps. Zig introduces you to Pearlybones, a trained doctor who tends the sick and injured.
"I need you to patrol the perimeter of the camp at night to make sure that the cats don't get any more goblins. If the dying continues, I'm afraid the workers will desert."