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"It is good to meet you. Ah...elementals to power machinery. I am somewhat familiar with how it goes, trying to gently suggest operations to the younger elementals. Let me take a look."
Claire starts taking a look at the designs, after giving a grateful nod to Bramblespine. She is a bit curious about the more intense specifics of these designs, but that would have to wait.
Claire is quick to remember a few gestures she recalls smaller elementals always being quick to answer to, and finds ways to get them to cooperate well.
After giving this a look, she also decides to make her way over and examine the Witchwarg pack's designs, trying to see if she can remember how to get them to warm up to her, too.
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Bramblespine has a look at Firozet's design but doesn't quite understand the nuances of the design. Claire, on the other hand, impresses Firozet with her curiosity and he enthusiastically explains the design to her. Jessa also has a look but realizes that it appears way out of her league...
"Oh, it is really simple, is it not? Through gentle applications of planar binding, minor elementals of air and fire can be used to create superheated air. This in turn is directed out through a large vent in the back of the train, causing a horizontal push that will propel the train."
Coven Matriarch Szvetneera glares at Glinda and Bramblespine as they appear to smile at the image of chicken legs sprouting from rail cars. However, Glinda manages to understand some of the nuances of the design.
Granny and Claire head over to the Planar Engineer but neither are sure about the design.
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Benkost walks up to the dwarf, whose face brightens at seeing another of his race.
"AH! Well met!" he booms, "I am Ivinder Greaseblood. I was sent by King Anong Arunak of Dongun Hold with a team of engineers. I am an expert on the use of gunpowder and combustion for explosive works. This is a challenge for me but we dwarves are masters at solving challenges, are we not?!"
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Claire decides to stop by and check in with the dwarf, to try and recall what would be the best methods to deal with, say, a gunpowder explosion. However, she doesn't actually remember how to do so herself, so that winds up going nowhere.
So, instead, she goes over to introduce herself to the fey woman, giving a respectful bow to her.
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Looking around for getting an idea how to help the fellow dwarf, Benkost begins to explain. You know, the fire is something versatile. It can be. You must not underestimate it. Some of the flame can be pushed like this or more like this.
He makes a demonstration with his kinetic power.
Do you see? Do you imagine all the mess on the Plane of fire with that? That's the reason why you must be careful with the gunpowder engine. You must isolate it rightfully.
Plane of fire lore:
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Jessa's brother is the real medic in the family, but she was raised by experienced adventurers who knew she intended to follow in their footsteps, so they made sure she at least had some familiarity with first aid.
...and she had plenty of experience with burns from tending her mother's apprentice as he was first learning spellwork.
Powder burns are maybe a bit different, though. But she might be able to adapt... ?
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Benkost strikes up a conversation with his fellow dwarf. They engage in an animated discussion about fire.
Using too much technical jargon, Ivinder explains that repeated, controlled explosions will send force out the back of the train, propelling it forward. He gestures to a dwarf with harsh burns down the length of their arm and insists they have tested it.
Jessa attempts to treat the dwarf's arm but accidentally spills whiskey on the wound, causing the dwarf to howl in pain and make several grisly threats ()
Claire attempts to soothe the dwarf's agony but doesn't quite get through to him.
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THE GODLESS ARCANIST - Benkost, Granny, Jessa, Glinda; 2 / 4 RP
THE WITCHWARG PACKMASTER- all done
THE FEY LADY -
THE PLANAR ENGINEER - Benkost, Granny, Jessa, Glinda; 1 / 4 RP
THE DWARVEN MACHINIST - Granny, Glinda, Bramblespine; 1 / 4 RP (Jessa Crit Failed her check)
THE COVEN MATRIARCH - Benkost, Granny, Jessa, Claire; 1 / 5 RPBenkost strikes up a conversation with his fellow dwarf. They engage in an animated discussion about fire.
Using too much technical jargon, Ivinder explains that repeated, controlled explosions will send force out the back of the train, propelling it forward. He gestures to a dwarf with harsh burns down the length of their arm and insists they have tested it.
Jessa attempts to treat the dwarf's arm but accidentally spills whiskey on the wound, causing the dwarf to howl in pain and make several grisly threats ()
Claire attempts to soothe the dwarf's agony but doesn't quite get through to him.
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Meanwhile Glinda visits the Planar Engineer.
I suppose a fire elemental for the heat energy source ... she muses. Although my expertise is in the Planes of Earth and Air
Her next stop is the Arcanist
then the dwarven machinist
After that, she is really sure a gunpowder engine is not a good idea.
Finally the Fey Lady.
That's an interesting model. What is it made of?
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THE GODLESS ARCANIST - Benkost, Granny, Jessa, Glinda; 2 / 4 RP
Arcana/Nature/Thievery
THE WITCHWARG PACKMASTER - all done
THE FEY LADY -
???
THE PLANAR ENGINEER - Benkost, Granny, Jessa, Glinda; 1 / 4 RP
Arcana/Crafting/Society
THE DWARVEN MACHINIST - Granny, Glinda, Bramblespine; 1 / 4 RP (Jessa Crit Failed her check)
Craft/Medicine/Society
THE COVEN MATRIARCH - Benkost, Granny, Jessa, Claire; 1 / 5 RP
Arcana/Diplomacy/Nature
****
Godless Arcanist.
Granny considers the NATURE of what she is presented with...
Nature
Finding it relatively easy to contribute!
Dwarven Machinist
Granny knows a fair bit about medicine...
Medicine
But not about Dwarves it seems, the old Dwarf/Goblin enmity echoing...
Coven Matriarch
Granny trues talking to the matriarch
Diplomacy
...but living/undead relations appear strained.
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Bramblespine spends time with Ivinder but the dwarf's technical doubletalk confuses him. ()
"Oh! Well met Pathfinders. I am Siraya. I am a representative of the people of the Feyfrost." She speaks in a soft voice that shares the tone of leaves shifting in the wind. She also repeats your names, as if trying to commit them to memory.
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Glenda and Granny both visit Firozet's exhibit. He enthusiastically discusses his design as using planar binding minor elementals of air and fire can be used to create superheated air. This in turn is directed out through a large vent in the back of the train, causing a horizontal push that will propel the train. He also shares an observation with the group:
"Earlier, when I was taking a walk around the grounds to warm myself, I noticed that the estate is in poor repair. The eastern windows overlooking the guest house are broken, with jagged glass and serrated steel lining their frame."
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Siraya looks a bit quizzically at Glinda. "What language is this? I don't quite understand..."
In either case, Siraya doesn't appear impressed with Glinda's linguistics.
DC 21 Nature
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Jessa feels increasingly out of her element, though at least she put on a good show with the wargs. Benkost seems to know what he's doing, so she focuses on backing him up.
"The Feyfrost? I'm not familiar, but it sounds like the cold here won't bother you."
Well. That wasn't terribly useful or insightful, but at least it probably won't offend her.
Jessa actually remembers a little about the elemental planes from her mother's lessons!
Jessa's a little less concerned with offending this one, but at least tries to hide it.
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Claire's face seems to light up, speaking to Siraya. She gives a gentle nod, recalling well enough how to ingratiate one's self to a fey. The Feyfrost itself isn't familiar to her, coming from a decidedly warmer part of Golarion, one where it was actually warm....but recognizing a certain leaf-like motif, answers plainly enough:
"Hello there, envoy Siraya. It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Claire.", she starts, before making a gesture like that of a leaf traveling in a calm breeze, and then continuing, "As the wind carries us, so does fate bring us together this day. Great spirits are with us, even as we behold the profoundly unusual", making sure to phrase her words with lots of interesting adjectives. Emotion-driven, those connected to the First World did usually seem to like that, more often than not.
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Lieutenant Surkzin beams and she lays the train model out on one of the tables and winds it up. As it moves on its own, she infuses an object in her hand with a bit of magic, causing an obsidian archway to appear in front of it. The model enters and comes out of a different archway on the table next to it. The lieutenant explains that the train can use the Stone Roads to travel vast distances in an instant.
"I must caution you about the guest house behind the estate house. My patrol has reported that the the number of icicles hanging from the roof seems to change each time they patrol near it."
*****
Matriarch Szvetneera looks down her nose onto Benkost. In a condescending voice, she proclaims "The only proper way to create an Irriseni device is to cleave to tradition. Therefore, my coven and I have devised a method to grow chicken legs on each of the cars, much like Baba Yaga's famous hut."
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Granny does the rounds but although she does manage to convince the contractors to speak of their creations, it does not produce any meaningful research.
You regroup and return to the lodge after making the rounds.
As the struggling sun reaches its zenith, Calix emerges from the main doors of the estate and tolls a large brass bell twice. The sound echoes across the courtyard, piercing through the chatter of the assembled parties and drawing all eyes to the dromaar. "Esteemed representatives, assembled staff, and, of course, our honored guests from the Pathfinder Society. I hope you have found the accommodations welcome and are all prepared to present your solutions to Her Majesty Queen Anastasia Nikolaevna Romanova. The court will receive you in the estate's meeting room. If you would please gather your demonstrative models and accompany me closely. The estate has many rooms and corridors, and it would not do for any of you to lose your way."
With a scattered mixture of grumbling and excitement, the procession trails behind Calix until it arrives at the same oak doors from earlier—this time swung wide. The long table has been replaced by a circular one, chairs arrayed with name cards so each representative can find their mark easily. Tactfully positioned at an angle of the table that sets her apart from the rest, yet still in full view of the proceedings, sits Queen Anastasia on throne of crafted ice. She rises in a respectful show before motioning for the assembled parties to sit. Once the room has calmed, the Irriseni queen pulls herself to her full height.
"Our thanks again, to each of you in turn for replying to our summons. We understand the task we commission is not only strange but made more difficult without our ability to demonstrate the function of a train properly. Therefore, we knew it was best to allow the people of Golarion to set loose their vision and ingenuity in order to bring it about. We are sure we will not be disappointed in what we are about to see. If you would please lay out your demonstration models on the table before you." The assembled representatives produce their model locomotives and begin to set them up. Queen Anastasia opens her mouth to continue before the sound of wrenching metal and shattering glass cuts her off.
Cold wind surges through the wreckage of the meeting room's large windows, the panes reduced to jagged edges and fine powder on the floor. Before anyone in the room can react, a group of six goblins, their skin a pale blue and accented by patchy tufts of white fur, barge through the opening. The small creatures surge over the large table, knocking it over and scattering the models. The goblins slide across the floor, scooping up the models and dashing out of the room. They round a corner, the sound of shrieking house maids marking their passage through the estate.
Amidst the the sound of shrieking house maids, you hear the goblins raucously singing their song.
Spread the rime, steal the wheels,
Keep the longshanks on our heels.
Tear the curtains, claw the floors,
Break stuff like we’re
charging boars!
Rimesnap says the hummies pay,
Chase us as we run away.
Scare the maids but do not kill,
Just cause trouble as we will.
House too warm, back to th’woods,
Make off with our shiny goods.
Think we made that butler cry
We be goblins! Now bye-bye!
Only Lieutenant Surkzin still holds her model, shock somehow an even odder emotion on her hobgoblin features than a smile. As she begins to formulate an explanation the chaos increases with the shouts of the other representatives. Accusations are quick to fly, with many of the group casting blame on the lieutenant and crying conspiracy.
Calix is the first to regain his composure. He gestures to the door leading out into the rest of the estate. "Pathfinders, if you please?" he entreats in a strained voice.
The goblins have a head start on you. They are one obstacle ahead of you.
The main hallway of the estate is in much worse shape now, with claw marks dug across the walls and floor and a thin patch of slippery ice spread around.
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CHASE TRACKER
Round: 1
Obstacle: MAIN HALLWAY
Skills:
DC 20 Acrobatics to maintain balance
DC 19 Nature to identify the least slippery patches of ice.
Special Conditions:
If you end up in the same Obstacle as the goblins you may, on your turn, attempt a DC 21 Athletics/Thievery to to wrench a train model from a goblin’s hand.
Successes: 0/4
Goblin Thieves Location: 1 obstacle(s) ahead
------------------
Those with ** may go
**Benkost
**Granny
**Jessa Stanton
**Glinda Lovegood
**Bramblespine
**Claire Tenare
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Claire follows along, watching with increased curiosity as everyone starts to put together their train models. From the weird and unusual, to the tame and restrained, she clasps her hands together, curious.
And then sound of wrenched metal and shattering glass, and the sudden, haphazard thefts of the train models. Queen Anastasia has only just barely opened her mouth to bid the Pathfinders to give chase, before the monk shouts, "....'our' shiny goods? We'll see about that! After them, quickly!", and begins to give chase to the Goblins.
Claire balances herself on the ice well enough, but she didn't really think to bring skates, and isn't able to keep pace with the others due to the harrying, hobbling ice. Still, she is determined to close in on these Goblins, one way or another.
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Bramblespine finds an ice-free area. Unfortunately, Jessa steps on a clear piece of ice and face-plants on the floor. Granny and Benkost think they found a safe path but nearly joining Jessa on the floor convinces them to re-evaluate. Glinda and Claire appear to get the hang of it but the ice has other ideas.
The assembled crowd looks on, both disappointed and disgusted at your inability to get started. Calix facepalms but says nothing...
In the meantime, the goblin song gets softer as the gobbos widen their lead...
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CHASE TRACKER
Round: 2
Obstacle: MAIN HALLWAY
Skills:
DC 20 Acrobatics to maintin balance
DC 19 Nature to identify the least slippery patches of ice.
Special Conditions:
If you end up in the same Obstacle as the goblins you may, on your turn, attempt a DC 21 Athletics/Thievery to to wrench a train model from a goblin’s hand.
Successes: 0/4
Goblin Thieves Location: 2 obstacle(s) ahead
------------------
Those with ** may go
**Benkost
**Granny
**Jessa Stanton
**Glinda Lovegood
**Bramblespine
**Claire Tenare