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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 keep all posts and communication in all channels limited to a PG-13 level and be both positive and inclusive.
3) Please label all three of your actions. Even if you think what you are doing is obvious.
4) 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.
5) 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
6) Please complete the Macros and the Slides linked at the top of the page.
7) Questions, concerns? Feel free to share them in the Discussion tab.
8) Let's have some fun and tell a great story together! After all, that's what we are here for.
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Bone crunches into sand, a heavily armed and armored thing trudges forward, bereft of skin, of organs, save for a curiously coiled mass of pink wrinkes encapsulated in it's chest cavity.
It's "eyes" - mere white specks, but, imbued with the telltale glimmer of sentience - intake the rising sun over the dunes. The direction it is walking? Towards Thuvia...
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Having a bowler hat over his thick and curly hair an amber skinned halfling in Gi clothes with a buckler strapped on his left arm arrives at his turn with a longbow emerging from behind his back.
Hello everybody, do you know what we are doing here? But all in all everything will run smoothly as usual. By the way my name's Nob Cutton, with double "T".
And he smiles largely.
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You arrive at the Merabian docks via the barge Powerful Hector, captained by one Eduard Tabrin, who waves as you descend the gangplank. Merab’s docks are busy, crowded with merchants, goods, and beasts of burden. Your instructions only say that someone will meet you at the docks. You're not left waiting as an imp soon flies up, hands over a written message, then disappears in a puff of smoke.
Darling Pathfinders,
I have some errands that I need you to run for me before you go off on your next assignment. Please find me in the Flowing Market, where I am in search of more reference materials. If you peruse the establishments that provide such materials, I am sure that you will be able to find me.
Your assistance is appreciated,
Chief Archivist Zarta Dralneen
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The middle-aged looking elf casually strolls down the gang plank with the air of one who is returning to a familiar place. He is bedecked in some fine leathers. Though fine, the leathers are far from austentatious. He, strangely, has no weapons or even sheathes upon his person.
He deftly picks the message from the imp's claws, opens it, and begins reading it aloud. His voice, as he speaks, is smooth and calm.
"Well," he starts with an amused smile after the recitation, "It would appear that we have a task before us that will truly test our mettle."
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The striking angular features of the aged elf are lost behind the overwhelming sensory experience created by their armor. The heavy chain mail has been reinforced over the centuries with plates of metal covered in strange scripts, fragments of occult artifacts, and prisms and other crystallin structures. Their cloak is of a similar make (in that it appears to be the stitched together fragments of many priestly and cultic vestments of various ages and origins) as they approach they lift a pale hand to cover a muffled cough before pulling out a crystal pendulum, giving it a flick and drawing a worn harrow card from a pouch at their waist. The pause they take for reflecting on the card and the behaviour of the pendulum let you take in the other notable features of this mysterious figure... Foremost a wand made from an old root that appears to have naturally grown around a rough quartz crystal.
In a ready voce they share, "the omens are in our favor... I'm sure our adventures together will be fortuitous!"
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Herkemer steps off the Powerful Hector looking around with wide wonder. "Whoa, this place is amazing!" he says softly almost to himself. It's pretty clear this is first mission for the Society, and perhaps his first time outside of Absalom. Herkemer is small athletically built halfling man, carrying a rapier, a handful of daggers, and rucksack full of gear. His armor is fresh and supple leathers that looks brand new.
He looks the others over and says. "I'm Herkemer. Glad to be on open road with you all." He nods a welcome to the others, trying not to stare too much at the skeletal ally or the accoutrements of Cesula.
"Sounds like we have to find our benefactor in the Flowing Market, particularly in a reference shop or library. Anyone know anything about Merab or where the Market is?"
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Lifnetheril calmly begins strolling to the northest after a short moment of thought. "I remember my last visit to the Flowing market. There were many more daggers pointed at me the last time."
Once in the market proper, he again reaches into his memories. "Zarta is looking for..," he starts before trailing off. ...Would be over this way I think."
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Herkemer also checks in with any of the sailors on the wharf about the Flowing Market. He ends up getting pretty solid directions."If you're ever in Absalom, I'll buy you a pint!" he calls over his shoulder at the sailors, and then falls in behind G'Mba who clears a safe path through the milling crowd.
Once at the market, the halfling asks around again, trying to determine where the Pathfinder leader might be holed up. This time, a language barrier seems to confuse the novice Pathfinder, and he tries to get the others to go in the wrong direction. A little red-faced he shrugs at the others hoping they had more success.
success
fail
...uncoiling from it's master's chest cavity, a segmented beast of some sort emerges itself, a powerful bodied worm with teeth of molten lava, slithering onto the ground, massively long, where perhaps to the utter horror of standers-bye, out of the cylindrical creature's anus, indeed, extrudes another mouth and opposing pair of visual sensory organs, gesticulating with twin tremble; some foul creature with no true beginning nor end!
It terrifies passerbys, creating unexpected traffic!
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The odd elf Cesula queries metaphorically to the group "who would know the way"[\B] as they hold their crystal pendulum up... The follow it to a an apparently random stranger. Cesula's eyes flare as they crypticly bark [b]"Which way to the flowing market?"
Intimidation to find the market:
Once in the market they pull out a small dowsing rod that leads them to an elderly begar. "Are you Zarta?" Cesula asks. The beggar doesn't respond verbally but points.
Diplomacy to find Zarta:
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All in all, it takes you about an hour to find the Flowing Market and learn that Zarta is located in a bookstore called the Leaves and Bindings. Nestled among the market stalls is a tea parlor and bookstore named Leaves and Bindings. A small cart holding several crates sits outside the shop. Zarta is sitting at a table with a dwarf, whom she introduces as Pallomar Gladhammer, a freelance correspondent for Golarion’s Finest books and travelogues.
Zarta gestures at Pallomar. "Pallomar here is in a spot of bother, and he will be writing an article about his adventures with Pathfinders. Deliver him and the books back to the Powerful Hector safely and you will receive the normal remuneration. It’s not exploring old ruins or something equally exciting, but even dry history books can be a gateway to experiencing new and wonderful things."
Zarta smiles and drinks another sip of tea. "Do you have any questions for me or Pallomar, or do you wish to get this simple errand over with?"
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"What's in these books the requires an escort? Are you expecting some kind of trouble? I mean, I know the locals are a little worked up about a game of some kind, but they wouldn't accost a simple dwarf carrying some books right? Common courtesy, right? Books are not typically worth very much. Now if he were carrying a fat coin purse, well that's fair game, iddn't it. So what gives with the books?"
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Wormcaller turns to Herkemer "There are other murmurs as well" teeth chattering against bone "The Merchant has been pushing rumors about the Sun Orchid Elixir being smuggled through the streets to the Decemvirate"
Not that he has ever met them. But our hero's ear holes echo well within his skull.
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Lifnetheril looks to Wormcaller with a intrigued raised eyebrow. "The sun orchid elixir you say? Now there is a real sport! The multitude of precautions they take to protect the transportation of those makes it simply tantalizing!" he says with obvious enthusiasm and then looks around quickly and adds, "Or so I hear. Not that I would take part."
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Oh that’s it! So you’re persecuted because of your art. I mean your writing art. Nobody should be persecuted because of his art. It makes me think that I need to write a sing about this. What do you think about the idea?
Further: But it will go. Don’t be afraid. They can’t do anything to us. We are in the middle of a group of warriors now.
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Cesula has been listening to the conversation with wrapt attention but takes this moment to interject to Pallomar.
My reading at the dock was unequivocal... The omens are with us friend! Unless you would prefer I take a new reading now that more information is available? I could do a quick harrow reading if that would be helpful!
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"If they crowd is fired up about basilisk games before they spy our dwarven friend, that's just more pilling on iddn't it? Can we move him to the dock in some kind of disguise? A wig, a dress, some magical illusion? That might be the safest way to travel with him."
Herkemer looks at Cesula. "I don't think a reading would hurt anything, do you? Maybe learn something useful as well."
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Cesula nods gravely and pulls his harrow deck and gives it a shuffle before quickly dealing out a nine card spread. The first column is The Vision, The Tangled Briar, and The Sickness; the second column is The Juggler, The Rabbit Prince, and The Trader; the last column is The Fiend, The Peacock, and The Cyclone.
Cesula stares at the spread tapping his chin thoughtfully and then prognosticated, The first column indicates corruption and secrets impacting from the past; the second column indicates destiny precariously balanced between success and failure in the hands of a merchant; the final column indicates a beautiful outcome sandwiched between disaster and destruction... It seems that there is a path to success but your past and your actions in the present, Pallomar, will determine if we fall off the razors edge of fate into disaster!
…the strange two-faced beast writhes…
…swallows a passing bird with it’s maw, incinerating it instantly…
…and “belches” out of the other end…
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You are provided with a cart already loaded with 4 crates of heavy books, stacked 2 deep. Pallomar gets up into the driver's seat and you begin your return to the ship.
Suddenly, enraged hermits surround the cart, chanting "Sezruth demands we destroy your cart." They prep oil and alchemist’s fire to lob at the wagon. Pallomar keeps driving, trying to escape the violence.
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COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 1
Tactical Map
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Those with ** may go
**Lifnetheril - AC 17 12/12
**G'Mba Bhee - AC 18 23/23
Red
Wormcaller - AC 18 36/36; Ouroboros AC 18
Nob Cutton - AC 16 (17 Mystic Armor) 15/15
White
Blue
Cesula - AC 19 15/15
Herkemer Halfshanks - AC 18 16/16
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Lifnetheril sighs and gestures toward the trio of hermits. "G'Mba," he says, his words seeming to have some power infused within, "go ahead."
Amp Your telepathic message allows you to coordinate your actions while you pass on information. The target of the message can immediately spend its reaction to Step or Stride.
He then walks toward the trio. As he gets closer he stares down the one on the far side . "If you do not run away now, your life is forfeit," he says coldly.
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Lifnetheril stares down Red and threatens him, but bursts out laughing in the end, spoiling it. He gives G'Mba Bhee a free boost, which allows the barbarian to get closer. He moves up, draws his glaive and fans White.
Red pulls out what appears to be a bottle with a rag sticking out the end. He manages to light it with flint and steel before hurling it at
for plus 1 persistent fire and 1 splash
Obviously he's not really good at this and the bottle fails to break.
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COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 1
Tactical Map
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Those with ** may go
Lifnetheril - AC 17 12/12
G'Mba Bhee - AC 18 23/23
Red
**Wormcaller - AC 18 36/36; Ouroboros AC 18
**Nob Cutton - AC 16 (17 Mystic Armor) 15/15
White
Blue
Cesula - AC 19 15/15
Herkemer Halfshanks - AC 18 16/16
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The halfling begins to sing.
I'm singin' in the battle,
Just singin' in the battle,
What a glorious feeling,
I'm happy again!
I'm laughing at foes
So dark over there,
The sun's in my heart and I'm ready for love!
Let the stormy foes be chased
By everyone from the place,
Come on with your foes,
I've got a smile on my face!
I'll walk down the lane
With a happy refrain,
Just singin', singin' in the battle!
Then he draws his longbow and fires an arrow towards the blue one.
Longbow:
Damage:
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Nob begins to sing a battle hymn. He draws his bow and shoots Blue, but the arrow goes wide of the mark.
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COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 1
Tactical Map
Active Conditions: Courageous Anthem (1/1)
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Those with ** may go
Lifnetheril - AC 17 12/12
G'Mba Bhee - AC 18 23/23
Red
**Wormcaller - AC 18 36/36; Ouroboros AC 18
Nob Cutton - AC 16 (17 Mystic Armor) 15/15
White
Blue
Cesula - AC 19 15/15
Herkemer Halfshanks - AC 18 16/16
A crimson symbol about the two-mawed beast's head glows with bloodlust, as it lunges forward opening, wrapping around the citizen, and crushing his ribs in heavy constriction!
~)
◆◆) Act Together to Beast's Charge
~) Energy Heart
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◆) Act Together to Protect Companion
◆) Stride
↺) Life Block
Running behind in unison, Wormcaller gets into range of the citizens, armor clanging and hunkering as bone crunches street - his own crimson symbol glowing into the shape a shield and cord attaching him to his beast.
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Wormcaller protects Ouroboros, who charges into the cultists but unfortunately, the hermit moves faster than he looks capable of doing.
Blue's eyes glaze over and suddenly a fanatical look appears. He pulls a dagger and tries to stab Ouroboros.
for
White assumes the same look and also pulls a dagger.
for
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COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 1
Tactical Map
Active Conditions: Courageous Anthem (1/1)
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Those with ** may go
-2-
**Lifnetheril - AC 17 12/12
**G'Mba Bhee - AC 18 23/23
Red
Wormcaller - AC 18 22/36; Ouroboros AC 18 (AC 19)
Nob Cutton - AC 16 (17 Mystic Armor) 15/15
White (Frenzied)
Blue (Frenzied)
-1-
**Cesula - AC 19 15/15
**Herkemer Halfshanks - AC 18 16/16