|
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.
|
|
A several centuries old elf, in full plate regalia, stands straight as a pole. His pure white hair forms like a halo around his sunburned face. A sinister look give him an air of grim determination and regal authority.
Strangely, with his pristine armor, decorated with flying dragons, he wears a lots of bits and bolts packed; broken holy symbols, scrap metal of diverse origins... On one side, a weapon who seems to be burning, as smoke gets out of its scabbard and on his hand a magnifiscent scepter with the head like the one of a golden dragon.
With a voice softer than expected, he presents himself after a short bow.
Greeting, I'm Elonded Firehand, servant of Ragathiel.
|
The visor flips up and out pops the face of a Dwarf, slightly on the younger side "Aye, well met. I'm Kernal Klank of the Five Kings Mountains, good to meet you Elondel." He offers up a firm handshake.
Kernal stands also in full plate armor and a pair of steel shields across his back, one noticeably heftier than the other. A warhammer swings on a leather strap at his belt.
|
Arriving at the Grand lodge, the old man with the somewhat shaggy appearance wears leather armor under a cape, a kind of sickle on the belt, but what intrigues the most is probably the swarm of gems that flies beside him, not to mention the phlegmatic opossum that plays with a bow near his feet.
Ah there is someone here. Is the omelet with mushrooms ready to eat?
Looking around: I presume it is ready because someone summoned me to come to eat.
|
|
A ruddy-haired halfling hustles into the room, a satchel slung around his neck clinking with unknown numbers of glass bottles. "Oh! Hi everyone! Is this the right spot?" He begins to rummage through his pockets, pulling random scraps of paper out, checking each of them.
"Oh, yes! This is right." He stuffs the paper back into his pockets. "I'm Argoni. Pleased to meet you!" He straightens his red coat and wipes some crumbs off the collar. Then he spots the chest on the table. "Ohhh. What's in that?"
|
|
Somewhat on a hurry, you see a tanned half elf join everyone, obviously late.
"I'm sorry for being late, I just got... sidetracked getting my gear up to date on the Merchant's Quarter."
Excuses done, she introduces herself to her new companions, wondering what Zarta will require of them this time.
"Well met everyone. I'm Erinn, an earth/wood kineticist. Pleased to meet you."
You can see that she's still trying to properly equip herself with a couple fo trinkets, getting the feel of their weight and adjusting small things here and there as she speaks.
|
|
Zarta holds up a finger, scribing a few lines on the page in front of her before looking up. "Good, you’re here. Thank you for coming; I fear our newer agents lack the experience necessary to handle some of the tasks at hand." She gestures to the chest at the foot of the desk. "This is Biglock, who’s been unusually quiet. Aren’t you going to say hello, Biglock?"
The front of the chest splits open into a gaping, toothy grin. "Just trying not to interrupt the briefing—until it’d be funny."
Zarta shakes her head, though the corner of her mouth quirks up in a smile. "Biglock, as you can see, is cursed with a sense of humor. He and his associate, Mr. Glovely, will be giving you the details on these missions. As some of you may recall, we recently obtained a treasure vault formerly held by the Onyx Alliance. They entrusted it to us after a tangle with the night hag Aslynn; it appears there’s something in the vault she wants. To make sense of her plans, it’s vital we properly catalog and secure the vault’s contents. In the process, we’ve found some items that require additional attention. You’ll be heading to the Grand Bazaar to consult with merchants about four of these treasures, as their expertise will be invaluable in identifying, fixing, or locating the items in question."
"Any questions?"
|
|
Kernal makes the rounds to each person at the meeting, introducing himself with a nods and a firm handshake, at least until he sees Biglock "Good to meet you Biglock." He stops short of asking the myriad of questions, most of all: what the heck are you?
"So we're taking some important items into the bazaar for identification. So guard duty then, works for me." He oversimplifies the duties.
|
|
The mad man nods to Zarta: Okay okay, so we've to finish the mission quickly to get the omelets before the shops are closed.
He strokes his chin.
So that means we takes all the mushrooms with us at once to avoid to make round-trip. By the way how many mushrooms do we need to ask about to the merchants?
|
|
Argoni jumps in surprise when Biglock shows himself. "Oh, is that a mimic?! I've always wanted to see one!" He stands on his tiptoes to get a better view.
"So what are these items? And we need people in the Grand Bazaar to tell us about them? Don't we have the best arcanists and loremasters here? What do we think the merchants can tell us about these things?"
|
|
Biglock shows his teeth at Argoni. "Come closer, little one. Then you'll really see a mimic up close!"
Zarta sighs. "Will you be serious, Biglock! Pay him no mind, he's always like that."
"We have some items that we found in the Vaults that are a bit exotic and require some more specialized knowledge. Besides, have you seen the paperwork pile on Sorrina's desk?! It will take her months to get to the first item on our list. We need the information right quick. Let's get started. Biglock, show them the first item."
"Mr. Glovely, go grab that scroll. Yeah, that one!"
The mimic grins, showing off his gold-plated teeth, as the two gloves hovering next to him present a tattered parchment scroll. "This little number is a major codebreaker’s parchment! Some Pathfinder codebreakers tried to decipher it, but it didn’t go so well. The words on the page flashed red and partially dissolved before coming back. They took it as a warning and left off messing with it, but they managed to decipher two words: Omira Descinaria. Apparently, she’s a retired Pathfinder who runs a shop in the Grand Bazaar now, called the Barghest’s Bin. No idea what connection she might have to the thing, but it’s worth an inquiry, no?"
"I suggest you meet with Omira and see if she can decipher the scroll. Take this. It will help you ascertain the veracity of her interpretation." Biglock hands you a Diviner's Nose Chain to take with you.
Omira Descinaria of the Barghest’s Bin retired from the Pathfinders after a disastrous exploration of a daemon-worshipping necromancer’s tomb resulting in the loss of her companions.
You proceed to the Grand Bazaar. The front window of the Barghest’s Bin showcases a dizzying variety of curios. A weathered dragon skull sits at the center of the display, surrounded by multicolored bottles of liquid, bejeweled wands and weapons, and a chest overflowing with glittering coins. Inside the shop, racks of weapons, wands, and potions are neatly displayed and labeled, and a sign overhead reads, "Ask any questions you like!" In the middle of the room stands a glowering statue of a barghest, its body and limbs festooned with cloaks, robes, and belts.
As you arrive, Omira greets you cheerfully. She is an upbeat woman who appears to view younger adventurers almost as apprentices.
"Well met! What may I help you with today?"
|
|
Eldonel bows toward Omira before saying in a calm and sincere tone.
Greetings Omira, I'm Elondel and as you can guess after Vilmur's introduction, we are Pathfinders.
But first, let me give you my sincere condoleances about your deceased comrades. It was a tragedy both for you and the Society.
We have been sent by the Grand Archivist herself to ask for your help in deciephering this scroll as it seems to be linked to you. In fact, when members of the Society tried to decipher it, they were only able to find your name.
Can you help us Omira?
|
|
Kernal will accept the nose chain, he did after all ask about useful items. "Not really my style but, I'll just keep my helmet on." He thanks the trio as the group heads out to the bazaar.
---
Once outside Kernal waves to a dark haired gnome "Gene, time to go." He hustles after his employer, the look of a used wagon salesman exudes from his constant smile.
"We're going to the Bazaar? Oh man, this is the best day ever!" He cheers excitedly at the prospects.
---
Kernal and his hireling head inside the shop, mostly keeping to themselves as they wander and check out the wares. Gene focusing on anything eye catching, while Kernal admires the metal armor and weaponry. Kernal keeps a close ear on the situation, and now, his nose.
|
|
"I have no problem with such things. It just depends on how you wear them" having said this, Erinn gets the chain and equips it on herself.
As Elondel asks Omira about the scroll, Erinn also adds a request for a guide to the bazaar itself.
"I'm not familiar with the place, so maybe you can point us to someone who could help us ask around?"
|
|
While Elondel asks about the scroll, Argoni wanders around the shop a bit, looking at various trinkets. He stops in front of the barghest statue, admiring its fearsome and grotesque face. "Wow, this is incredible! Where did you get it?" The halfling takes some of the items hanging off it to examine too.
|
|
Erinn's fast, but this time, he's beaten out by the armored dwarf, who takes the chain.
Omira smiles at Argoni as he explores the shop. "Some of those have a long tale attached to them. Maybe when your business is over you can come back and we can have a long talk." At the mention of a mushroom omelet, Omira's eyes turn dreamy. "Oooh, yes, there's a stall on the northernmost corner of the Bazaar. They have the best eggs. The mushrooms as also to die for. They call them shi-take and are sourced from Tian Xia, as I recall." Snapping her eyes back to reality, Omira focuses on the parchment in Vilmur's hand.
She frowns, "It can’t be. May I see it?" She inspects the parchment, her brow furrowed in thought. "Hmmm. This belonged to an adventuring companion of mine but I didn't know of this specific parchment’s existence until now, but it was a method my former team used to log sensitive information. I could decode this, but would you be willing to do me a favor in exchange?"
"On the day I opened this store, there was a shop with a purple door across the street. I remember stopping in, but I don't remember what happened inside the store. I haven't seen the door since so maybe the shop closed or remodeled. However, anytime I smell pesh or something caustic, I remember the purple door. I've consulted several scholars for assistance with no luck. This is troubling, as is my lack of memory for the time I spent inside."
"I've created a mindscape linked to my consciousness, in theory allowing you to enter and view my memories. I don't know who I can trust but seeing that you are also Pathfinders, I feel that I can trust you with this. Will you do this for me?"
|
|
Seeing that Omira puts an Out to lunch the mad man rubs his hands already imagining the omelet. Then he’s waiting when Omira says to make them comfortable.
Well I am comfortable. But where are the omelets?
Seeing that Omira is beginning something else he makes a bad mood as his pleasure was wasted. But his attention is captured by the new game offered by Omira: entering her mindscape.
Occultism:
Occultism hero point:
|
|
Klank is sure to remind Omira to lock the door after she places the sign "To keep some of the riff raff out I guess." He adds before looking for a spot to get comfortable. He keeps his armor and helmet on, drawing out his sturdy shield, unsure just how this is going to work. He doesn't seem very comfortable, and is a bit confused on the process but remains quiet.