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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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Your adventure begins with you arriving at the Hwanggot Lantern Lodge in the morning. You are greeted by Venture-Captain Yi Da Som, a samsaran with perfect posture and a pleasant manner.
The Lantern Lodge is already bustling despite the early hour, Pathfinders exchange greetings as they make their way in and out. Several local vendors are parked just outside the door with wares pre-marked for their regulars, who snatch up their breakfast and make payments with practiced ease. In the midst of it all stands Venture-Captain Yi Da Som, smiling serenely.
"Good morning, Pathfinders. Thank you for being so punctual. Please, follow me and we’ll get your briefing started." She heads into the lodge, politely greeting anyone on the way, and opens the doors to a private meeting room. A covered meal of dumplings and rolled eggs as well as a large pot of tea sits on the large table for guests to serve themselves. Already seated is a woman in flowing robes and an equally flowing waterfall mask that obscures her entire face.
"Hello, Pathfinders," she says. "You may call me the Waterfall. Help yourself to some breakfast and introduce yourselves."
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The half-elf introduces himself to everyone, Hi, I am Loquinor Brightcoral! Glad to meet ya! He then turns to Waterfall, What a neat name. Can you make water? I guess I can make waterfalls too, he says as he twirls his left wrist and a cascade of water emerges from the small portal that he opens up. Your name reminds me about a song I think I once heard. It was something about NOT chasing waterfalls and to stay close to the rivers and to stick to the rivers and the lakes that you are used to, which never really made sense to me since I know more about oceans than rivers or lakes.
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After introductions are made, the Waterfall continues.
"You’ve been called in because we need assistance forging a potential alliance with a powerful entity. An ancient dragon by the name of Valashinaz dwells beneath much of Tian Xia. She’s known to be a collector of great knowledge and artifacts and has more recently become open to sharing said knowledge.
"[b]I was able to contact Valashinaz’s assistant, a kobold called Purepurin, who has been arranging meetings between her mistress and interested parties. Venture-Captain Yi Da Som and I have secured a meeting for this afternoon, in about—" She glances at a water clock in the room. "—five hours."
"The Decemvirate and I have other business to attend to prior to the meeting," Da Som chimes in. "It would be remiss of us to attend such an important meeting without presenting a gift beforehand, but we are unable to arrive until the exact meeting time."
Da Som takes out a stack of exquisitely bound books, each bearing an embroidered symbol of the Pathfinder Society. She carefully wraps them in a patchwork silk cloth and places it on the table. "Pathfinders, please take this gift and present it to Valashinaz. Her assistant Purepurin will be waiting at the cave entrance to her vaults to introduce you to her mistress. Show them the respect and dignity of the Pathfinder Society so we can present our case for a partnership that will benefit all the people we serve. Do you have any questions?"
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Valashinaz dwells in a massive underground cave system normally inhabited by creatures like rats and giant centipedes, but her kobold attendants keep her lair free of pests, including intrusive adventurers. The steward Purepurin curates the guest list and arranges tours and trades of goods or information.
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"Do we know why she has decided to share now? I've heard that dragons are very into hoarding, and this seems out of character." Todd asks, quizzically.
Venture-Captain Yi Da Som answers, "Valashinaz has had more time in this world than any of us, and she is now open to sharing her experience with others. It’s imperative we take this opportunity to extend our hand and gain the privilege of learning from her. I know it is out of character for dragons to share but we do not know why she decided to share now. But we must take advantage of this opportunity."
The Waterfall adds flatly, "And if she is amenable to sharing her artifacts with us, that is obviously an additional boon for the Society."
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Da Som’s hands clasp together as she answers Charlies. "We are all connected Pathfinders. For good or for ill, all creatures who exist at this moment share the commonality of being present at this exact time in this world. Yet even in the same circumstances, none of us will have the same experience. Each moment we have in the world is a precious chance to teach and to learn, and there are some who have had many more moments than us."
Turning to Jong, Da Som replies, "I'm sure that experienced Pathfinders such as yourselves can handle any dangers that you might come across. There are no reports about ravening beings on this road, apart from the usual random creature. Just hand the gift over to Purepurin and she will summon her mistress"
Da Som graciously provides you with a cart and horse, as well as a map to the cave. She also hands you a Potency Crystal and a Gecko Potion.
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The bustle of cart vendors and morning greetings gives way to rolling hills and birdsong on the path out of Haseong. Farmers in the distance occasionally pause their work to give friendly waves. Cattle dot far off fields colored by flourishing crops. The cart lent by the Lantern Lodge, enchanted to deal with unpaved terrain, leisurely rolls off the road without issue, the horse at its head expertly leading its charges into rockier countryside. Time passes peacefully, swirling clouds blotting out the vibrant sun to gentle its gaze on the world below.
The three-hour journey to the cave is a pleasant one with little issue. Much of the journey is off-road, heading deeper into a quiet part of the countryside. There are few other travelers in this peaceful, isolated area, though the occasional animal might scamper past, and the rough dirt roads are unfriendly to most modes of transportation.
About two and a half hours into the journey, you come upon a cart that is stuck in a ditch on a very basic dirt road.
A cart tied to two unbothered goats lies toppled on its side, one back wheel firmly trapped in a divot in the dirt path. A cheerful working song mixes with Goblin swears as a flustered goblin tugs uselessly at one of the goats’ reins. There’s a small grilling table built into the cart, where two goblins roast brightly colored skewers despite the conundrum. A dangerously loose sign dangles off the back proclaiming "SPICY DEATH CHICKEN CHALLENGE" in multiple languages with prices for their wares.
Several other goblins have set up in the grass to pickle vegetables and sing a merry tune, surrounded by glass jars chock full of meat and pickles as well as ceramic jugs flowing with spices and sauces. Many of the ceramics look too finely crafted to be cookware, their elegant designs and patterns smeared in chili powder and garlic paste.
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Dokk turns to Charlies with pleading eyes. "Cart stuck! Yous helps us?" Her eyes light up as Charlies inquires about the food. "Yes. Chicken marinating in lava sauce. Yous want try?"
Dokk shows you a pot with lava-like sauce that smells of ozone.
Todd attempts to lift the wagon. It moves a bit but is stuck fast.
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Olombe shakes his head at the stuck cart. "I'm afraid I'll have to leave that sort of manual labor to you youngsters. These frail bones have no business lifting a heavy cart. Perhaps I can encourage the goats to lend a hand, though."
He heads over to the goats and pats one on the head. "There's a good girl. Pull now okay?" He tugs lightly on the goat's harness, encouraging her to move.
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The efforts or Jong, Lorqinor and Olombe are enough to bring the cart back to the road. Dokk is overjoyed when she sees the cart back on the road.
"Yous good! Wes gives you stuff for yous trip!"
Dokk hands you a packed lunch of chicken skewers, a jar of pickle juice () and a canteen of goat milk. She also hands you a scrap of parchment. Upon examination, you see the word "persimmon" written on it.
"I's not knows what means. Cave lady gives us."
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"No, but thanks to the offer." Charlies politely declines the offered chicken marinated in lava sauce but takes the packed lunch of chicken skewers, a jar of pickle juice, and a canteen of goat milk, including the parchment.
"Cave lady? Have you gotten the chance to know her name? What does she look like?" he asks about the cave lady.
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Yes, we are going to see Cave Lady. It sounds like she is very nice.
Jong definitely tries the marinated chicken. She will compliment the taste of the chicken in Goblin, but keep most of the conversation in Common for the benefit of the rest of the party.
May I see the parchment?
She will examine the parchment for a minute, using Quick Identification to see if it has any magical properties. (Arcana, Crafting and Occultism all +8)
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Jong has a look at the parchment but cannot detect any sort of magical dweomer on it.
Both Todd and Jong sample the chicken. They end up with uncontrollable coughing fits and sweating for a few seconds. The goblins roar with laughter and offer you some goat milk to alleviate the suffering due to the spices.
"I's not know why cave lady gives paper. But if yous go sees Cave Lady, yous can use shortcut!"
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"Oh, yous just pass through forest here. Yous have map to goes all around? Ride short while and gets to cave lady's cave."
The peaceful hills show little sign of civilization, only the occasional rabbit scampering by. The afternoon sun beams down onto the rocky terrain and tall grass and weeds, unhampered by the business of mortals, wave gently in the breeze. You arrive at the rocky hillside with roughly two hours remaining before the scheduled meeting time. It’s a calm, desolate area surrounded by vibrant foliage. Following the map leads to the brush where the cave entrance is hidden, but no one is there to greet you.
You notice several rocks that don't look right. Close inspection reveals that they are bombs of some sort, but short of setting them off, there is no way to tell what they are.
The bomb explodes into a cloud of spicy, choking gas that envelops the area.
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Olombe yells into the cavern and is met with deafening silence, other than the echoes of his own voice...
As you descend into the cave, the natural cave floor vanishes into a thickening carpet of gold and jewels. A large bulk of the treasure has been haphazardly pushed up to pile against the right wall, indicating someone has tried to sweep a meager path for visitors. Brightly glowing crystals line the walls about two feet from the floor, though a spare few have been placed higher for the benefit of taller folk. The crystal lights illuminate the path to several vaults deeper into the caverns.