Here's our gameplay thread. For now, please dot and delete.
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Omrax, a tall, fair haired knight of with obvious elven heritage. He removes his winged helm as he enters the room and stands at attention to one side.
Under his red cloak, he wears a new suit of polished fullplate along with a shield bearing the crest of Iomedae on his arm.
His longsword is well kept and shows signs of recent battles.
Strapped to his back is a longbow and greatsword.
“Greetings Pathfinders,” says Venture-Captain Jorsal of Lauterbury, as he turns from gazing out a window of the Starrise Spire. Over his shoulder, the tortured landscape of the Worldwound broods in the distance. “I hope you all are well. This mission promises to be
challenging, even for agents of your caliber.”
(please introduce your character if you have not done so already)
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A tengu with golden eyes and shiny black feathers bows low, his right hand holding his hat over his heart and his left arm held perpendicular to his body, his torso bending until it is parallel with the ground.
"Greetings companions, met and unmet. I am Kahwen," he says, his gaze flitting from one person to the next with rapid, yet precise movements.
Though of average size for a tengu, he looks smaller as all his equipment appears to be oversized for him. The elven curve blade strapped to his back is very nearly as long as he is tall and he wears a waterproof ship's captain's coat that reaches almost to his ankles. His hat features two plumes, one long and colorful the other small and dull.
"I am pleased to have the honor of serving the Society again."
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Omrax bows formally
”Greetings Venture Captain, sir. Omrax, humble servant of Iomedae reporting. It is truly an honor sir. I only hope to serve to the best of my ability. I have not returned in several years and wish to hear the development .“
He turns to Kahwen
”Greetings my good friend. I hope thy travels have been blessed since our last mission. “
The Venture Captain warmly thanks Kahwen and Omrax for their help in the past.
Then he continues with the briefing for the entire team.
“As you have likely heard by now, The Fifth Mendevian Crusade is over, at long last. With support from countless crusaders, including considerable assistance from the Pathfinder Society, a group of heroes has managed to seal the Worldwound. As a part of their charge through the Worldwound and into the Abyss, they slew a host of demons, most notable among them the demon lord Deskari. With the imminent threat of invasion gone, many of the holy warriors who served here have returned home. Mendev is still dealing with a continuing effort to clear out the Worldwound’s remaining demons, which is plenty of work to keep our crusaders busy. Yet danger remains—some opportunistic demons seek to seize upon pieces of the power vacuum left in Deskari’s wake. One such demon is the glabrezu Koth’Vaul, also known as Lying Horns. No doubt some of you are familiar with his vile history. His machinations have plagued the Pathfinder Society for years. The demon was a lead mastermind behind the siege of Absalom. It was his foul magic that granted unholy resurrection to the corrupted Venture-Captain Thurl, another great enemy of the Society. We recently brought Thurl to justice, but so far Koth’Vaul has eluded us. Now it seems that Koth’Vaul is picking at the seams of the Worldwound. Our scouts and diviners report that the glabrezu and his followers ventured into the Worldwound several days ago and tore open a portal leading to the Abyss. We can only guess at what his intentions are. Needless to say, the Pathfinder Society greatly desires to settle the score with Koth’Vaul and put a stop to whatever he is planning. Your task is track the demon through the Worldwound and into the Abyss beyond. End his miserable existence once and for all.”
Any questions?
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The door to the Venture-Captain’s office opens, and Jaervahn steps inside with the quiet confidence of one who prefers the wilds to walls. Scraggly brown hair frames his weathered, bronze-toned face, and his sharp emerald eyes quickly find his companions. A hint of tension eases from his shoulders as he recognizes them—familiar faces in a place that smells of ink and stone rather than pine and rain.
His longbow, rimed faintly with frost and decorated with feathers and tiny woodland bones, rests easily across his back. At his side, the white wolf Isenfäng moves in step, silent and alert, his pale eyes watchful but unthreatening. The elf gives a brief nod of greeting to each of his fellow Pathfinders before speaking, his voice calm and low, like wind threading through forest boughs.
“Good to see you all again. Seems the fates—or the Venture-Captain—weren’t done with us yet.”
A faint grin touches his lips, gone as quickly as it came.
“Let’s see what hunt they’ve set before us this time.”
He moves to stand beside his companions, one hand resting lightly on Isenfäng’s neck as the wolf settles at his feet, both of them quiet and ready.
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Omrax bows and smiles to Jaervahn and turns to the Venture Captain to add to the rangers question.
”Aye, it seems our band of brothers who successfully neutralized Thurl must now track down this Koth’Vaul. I only vaguely remember the name during the siege. Any additional details would be greatly appreciated.“
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Svetlana steps into the room clad in full Hellknight plate, not the polished silks of the Chelaxian diplomat this time, but the iron fist of Order made manifest. “Vicarius Giordano Torchia sends his regards from Citadel Enferac on behalf of the Order of the Gate” She sets her helm down beside Omrax’s - his crowned with wings, hers with the curling horns of devils.
“Demons?” she remarks, a vicious joy flickering behind her eyes - “The Crusaders congratulated themselves and went home too early. There is still work to be done”
Turning to Omrax, her expression softens to a warm smile of kinship “Omrax, my dearest brother-in-steel — this is a great day. If you are here, then I know I am in the right place to cleanse the most heinous corruptions”
Finally, she turns to the others “And our cast of fine Pathfinders; Kahwen, Jhaervhan, your presence and talents already fill me with confidence in our assured success”
"Now, about these Demons - what are the strengths and weaknesses of a Glabrezu? Let us ensure we approach with knowledge"
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Omrax smiles warmly as Svetlana arrives. While he is still uncomfortable with her choice of ornamentation on her gear, he knows her heart is true.
”Greetings and well met again. ‘Tis true our blades will again be needed to thwart that evil which will not leave. But by our honor our team will prevail I have no doubt.“
He meditates while others arrive and answers received
• I will never abandon a companion, though I will honor
sacrifice freely given.
• I will guard the honor of my fellows, both in thought
and deed, and I will have faith in them.
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Kahwen offers one of his low bows to Jaervahn and Svetlana when they enter, notably less intimidated by the ominous armor and stern bearing of the Hellknight this time than the last.
His gaze flicks from one person to the next as the conversation continues, his beak darting like a weathervane in wild wind in the direction of his eyes.
"Are there any ways in which Koth'Vaul differs from other glabrezu?" he asks the Venture Captain.
The Venture Captain answers Jaervahn's questions with a brief history lesson.
All he can tell you as answer to your other questions is that Koth'Vaul is probably stronger than other glabrezu
After the briefing, as you are preparing to leave, all of you but Furen get a copy of the handout labelled 'Mulia's Missive' in the maps. I think it's fair to say one of you would show it to your new teammate. :)
The scenario does not offer any knowledge checks at this point. Is there anything you wish to do before setting off?
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After reading the note, Kahwen reaches into his pockets and starts pulling out things. And more things. And more things. And more things than should fit in them, especially with them laying flat and not bulging noticeably.
Finally, he pulls out a vial of crystalline liquid. "There it is," he mutters before drawing his elven curve blade. The weapon is too massive for him to hold steady for long with one hand and he lays it on an end table and carefully copying the four name fragments along the length of the blade. He opens up his coat, revealing a shirt of almost impossibly fine chain mail and does the same to it.
It costs one vial of holy water per inscription (meaning per item inscribed). You can inscribe weapons and armor. If you choose to do so, you may attempt a knowledge:religion check for a boost to the mechanical benefits this provides.
(you can purchase vials of holy water now, if needed)
(I'll start up a shared google doc soon to track what happens with the scribing and other buffs and things.)
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Omrax looks at the others inscribing their weapons.
I dareth say I am not entirely sure Iomedae would approve of this ceremonial on her blessed blade. Thus I will inscribe my other in its stead.
He inscribes his 2H sword instead. Buying 2 vials of holy water, one to be used now...
• I will learn the weight of my sword. Without my heart
to guide it, it is worthless—my strength is not in my
sword, but in my heart. If I lose my sword, I have lost a
tool. If I betray my heart, I have died.
OK, everyone, please put what items(s) you scribed and your knowledge check results on the link above labelled 'shared notes.' I'll clean up the format a little after everything is there.
We still need Helgar's scribing in the notes.