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FYI: I'll be away this coming weekend starting Friday evening 9/8 through Sunday 9/10 (US/Pacific time). I will have limited access to post from my phone, so I may be able to keep up over the weekend but can't guarantee a post. As it is the weekend, I suspect this won't be very disruptive to the game.
Amrus whistles in the dark.
This is an FYI that I'll be away in nature this weekend, Sat 8/19 and Sun 8/20. I'll return very late Sunday and likely won't post again until Monday 8/21.
Amrus frowns as he observes the ways his different companions dealt with the missing crew. It's not that he was incapable of compassion, but with no recourse it just didn't feel productive to him. There's always more coin to be exchanged. Who knows, if we can gather enough coin from this cargo perhaps we can help their families a little... he offers to those in mourning. D'witt's offering to look at the eye-shaped green stone is a welcome distraction. Back to work! He turns his arcane eye on it.
To D'witt, he replies Yes, I'd be happy to have you along! Strength in numbers!
Sorry to hear man. Take your time, and yeah the distraction will be here when you need it.
Amrus offers to the group to sell the loot and divide the proceeds evenly. He thinks he might be able to meet with enough other merchants this evening to make the requisite transactions and let them be on their way the next day, all the richer. But, he doesn't presume to act on behalf of the others without their weighing in.
Amrus gets particularly frustrated as the trail runs cold on the missing boat crew. It was at his urging after all and he didn't want to return to town being thought of as only interested in the loot. It's not even that he was sure they cared about the lives, but he preferred to be seen as invested in a community. Any amount of good will could be useful in business dealings.
We're they taken, or did they mean to get lost... the tiefling muses just as they've agreed to give up and head back to town. Eventually he shrugs it off for the time being. ------------ Amrus asks the sheriff to please inform them if his trackers are able to run down the missing crew. ------------
Amrus pats the loom with one hand.
The most important load from this ship isn't going to burn up. I have no idea right now what's happening to the missing crew.
Here: The tiefling briskly but carefully moves it up high enough to clear flames and then laterally out over the shore. There is mild celebration when he can start to carefully lower it there.
Ah, I thought the loom had been set on the ground and the crane burning was no longer an issue. One of my posts discussed him lowering it on shore and I didn't see any corrections to that.
It took a crane to move it, and we'll more likely have to arrange for some manner of wagon to help transport it back to town. I suspect we can leave it for a short time while we search!
Oh yes! I'd lost track of them in all of this mud. You have a good eye there!
Hmm... yes people do tend to fetch a higher reward. The merchant scratches his chin and smiles. But now the question of where they went... Do any of you see signs of what direction they may have gone? He begins looking in the mud for useful footprints.
Amrus looks about the ship with an assessing eye, finally remarking Well, it looks like the boat will soon be a total loss. What do you all say we go get a reward for saving this loom! He smiles and gives the rest of the crew an expectant look.
Given the cross-posting and backtracking due to missing details, let's just assume Amrus helps the team as best he can with the winch (hoisting additional boxes/cargo as requested), and keep his post about joining D'witt and Detecting Magic, but assume that happens after all of the hoisiting.
He eventually follows D'witt into the captains cabin. First, he scans the cabin with Detect Magic.
As a merchant, Amrus is in fact quite interested in the ingots, wine, and other product on the boat. However, they have yet to find the crew who may still lay claim to all of these. He starts to hope they're alive, but have run off, never to be found again. He eventually follows D'witt into the captains cabin. First, he scans the cabin with Detect Magic.
Fair enough. I'm not sure why I imagined Boram on the boat, but I can retcon that to Amrus just asking whoever *is* there to hook it up for him and I think the rest is fine.
"Amrus, what can I do to help you?" He yells back out to Boram over the roar of the increasing flames. I just need one of you near the loom to get the end of the crane's line affixed to the loom! I could use some more water on that rope too so that the flames don't consume it before we can get the loom to shore!
The tiefling briskly but carefully moves it up high enough to clear flames and then laterally out over the shore. There is mild celebration when he can start to carefully lower it there.
"What can I do to help you" So that sort of depends on how the boat is arranged (which I asked about a little in my post). I was trying to not assume too much. It's not clear where the loom is or whether it's location is clear from the winch. So I imagined Amrus *might* need help spotting it (but certainly help affixing the end of the crane's line to it, so I suppose I can post that as the answer).
Amrus sighs and approaches the burning boat. Getting a dowsing from Anduriel, carefully navigates the burning structure to approach the winch.
Hey, I think I have it working! Can I get some eyes down below to help me target the loom with it?
The mage frowns at Elann's discouraged expression. You're doing your best, and the water is helping enough to give us an opening! Amrus manifests his arcane hand and guides it towards the winch. He hopes to coordinate it with the others from this safe distance, but he's not sure how well it will work...
Amrus nods at Elann and smiles as her divine water source makes short work of the fire. I thought you might have such a trick up your sleeve! He turns to the tracks and, stroking his chin thoughtfully, replies to Boram. As soon as we're sure the fire is out, and we've verified the loom is present and relatively undamaged, I do think we ought to go after the crew.
The small clues are interesting but more immediately there is still a fire. Elann! Do you have the ability to create water? Some divine adherents can do this and it would be useful now!
As they rode through town Amrus was possibly the only one who didn't notice the curvy halfling in particular. He was moreso looking over the inventory in her wagons, wondering what might be soon saturating the local market and taking mental notes. "Look! Quickly now. I can't see how a ship stuck in the mud would be on fire!" Oh, I suspect it could burn down to the mud just fine. Whatever it is we should check it out fast. He speeds along with the others.
Hello! This is an FYI that I'll be away in nature (and away from internet and computers) starting Friday (5/26) evening, until I return late Monday (5/30). I will catch up on posts that evening.
Amrus' gaze narrows at the Dockmaster. It seems like such a cheap, easy offer to make up front with little risk of not following through...
Amrus nods agreeably (though in his mind not immediately trusting the dockmaster). Seems reasonable enough. Is there no crew here that goes to help stuck boats? You know, keep trade and commerce flowing? It would seem like a sensible investment for the local maritime guild.
Amrus nods at this. It sounds like we have our first problem to solve. Point us at the dock master! The tip of his tail curls up into the air as if preparing to point in a confirmed direction, once given.
Haha, he will be the last to ask about food, probably.
Ah! Now that looks like a merchant. Having identified what they think is the right caravan, Amrus dismounts and approaches the wide man. Greetings Trader Phelan, I am Amrus and these are my associates. We were sent by the Silver Shields to help see this caravan safely to its destination. He then introduces his companions one by one, ending with himself. ...and as I said before, I am Amrus, Amrus Draldronga. I'm something of a merchant myself and so I may find opportunity to conduct additional business of my own. Presently I peddle minor tinctures and arcane essences, but my hope is to expand into significant relics and artifacts of bygone civilizations. He pats his over-full backpack, implying that it contains some of the referenced esoterica.
Amrus wanders the stable, becoming increasingly irritated at the choice before him. How do I even pick one? Would someone pick one for me? Every time he thinks he's settled on a steed, he backs away and looks around at the options again. Gah! He closes his eyes and declares I'll take the next one that neighs!
Amrus smirks at the explanation of the imps. Professional espionage then. Amusing. Yes yes, you're right. We should be off to meet with the caravan.
Amrus will take a potion of cure light wounds. I believe the term for a person of my studies is... "squishy." The tiefling grimaces as the chaotic entrance of the dwarf maiden proceeds. Hmm... this one could add more work than help. Then he wonders how far is own reputation has traveled and keeps it to himself for now. He turns back to Allura. Should we be on the lookout for clues about Malfeus before we return? How influential is he?
Meanwhile I dropped off a bit in posting because my internet was not what I thought it would be over the weekend. Back, and catching up now.
Amrus relaxed as the caravan's situation was explained. For a moment it felt urgent to look into "Malfeous," but he is himself a merchant by trade and so perhaps this job would supply ample opportunity. His attentiveness carried a business-like demeanor. I wonder if the church's caravan would have some room on the way back, in case I find some interesting items for my inventory along the way or at our destination. Anyway, thank you for giving us the run-down Braendar. We will look out for your cousin! He turns to the rest of the party. Should we stop off at any equipment suppliers? Anyone in need of rations. He turns back to the dwarf. Say, do you know if they supply meals on the caravan?
Amrus grimaces and declines the pouch of dark-leaf. So, we're to transport and protect these looms as they make their way to Ebbernant? Is it well-known that they make this journey, or that our caravan will likely hold them? Tapping his finger to his chin, he thinks some more. Tell us more about this caravan. Who runs it and what other staff ride along with it? Do any of them have interesting stock besides the looms?
Amrus seems a little incredulous at the sudden chaos in this place. Once it is all over, he asks How dangerous is this "Malfeous"? Should that not be our urgent mission unless it is above our skill
With little thought Amrus sends a thrust of force at the little imp.
Ha! I didn't even consider that. My thought was top-of-head. I imagine him as rather tall.
I suppose I didn't describe his height in-game, but Amrus is 6 ft even.
Amrus predictably signals for more coffee when it's offered.
It takes him several moments to focus and realize why the books he's watching are seemingly moving on their own. Ah... imps. he thinks as he looks over to see Elann acting quickly.
Oh hey, a post from NPC Hannah :)
Yeah, I also try to not pile on too hard in a lull because it does add up and move the goal-posts on "catching up" to post for whoever is behind.
Accepting the second coffee and smiling more genuinely he reveals his own letter, a little in resign. Yes, as we can all guess we're here for the same reason. Delivery. He lets the letter fall to the bartop next to his coffee. Are we sure it's all the same delivery or we could be sent off in different directions. If it is the same job... wow five bodies. This should be some interesting cargo.
Moving to the indicated booth, she sees it mostly empty, save a tall lanky Shield member she remembered seeing at the trials yesterday, definitely carrying a touch of the lower planes in his blood. "Morning!" she says slipping into the booth with an amiable nod. Without looking up, Amrus gives a sarcastic Verily. It is indeed morning. "Amrus, Anduriel, I suppose you two received one of these as well?" Nearing the table he began to pull out one of the straight-backed oaken chairs. Remembering his manners, he asks as he climbed up into the humanoid sized chair. "You don't mind if I join you? Do you?" He looks around to see if there are open stools at the bar. If there is a place, I do not mind. "I see some had rougher nights than others," she smiles slyly at the sleepy looks of some of the others at the table. The tiefling only grunts and gulps his coffee faster. Another!
Amrus, tall and lanky, sits at the edge of his under-sized bed reading the letter. A deep frown sets in at the realization that there will be no rest before the first mission. Staying out late was a bad choice... he chides himself. It wasn't just the Silver Shields celebration party. After he'd stopped by his usual haunt: the Midnight Cafe where he and a small collection of characters meet over bowls of stew after midnight. They were friends with unspoken pasts who didn't have to answer to each other. Perhaps that was the appeal. What might seem like a dogmatic ritual was really just an overly comfortable, if very unusual routine. So, Amrus dragged himself into this private room not sixty minutes before the rooster sounded off. Hmph! Paladin... Well, a job is a job. Folding up the letter he pulls his pack from under the bed, refolds the note and places it in one of the outer pockets. He gets up and begrudgingly drags himself to the next place: downstairs. Just before crossing into the common room, he runs his fingers through his hair and flashes a practice smile to nobody in a sort of token attempt to prepare hide how tired he is. ----------------
Just coffee, miss Hannah. I must purge the blood from my coffee stream if I am to operate today accompanied by a half-hearted chuckle. I'm sure she's heard every tired line a thousand times over. He sips his coffee in relative silence until others assigned to his mission might arrive...
I’m also looking forward to this. I presume this is the time we read each other’s backgrounds and think in more detail how we know each other and interact.
I've made some elaborations on this character's background and motivations. Obviously there are many gaps to fill, but like many others I like to leave some holes to fill during the actual game. Background, motivations: A nosy tiefling wizard who thought the mercenary company would provide him with access to future customers of his arcane tinctures or access to components and lore via the missions. So they have a little motivation for negotiating wealth, but it's a means to knowledge and experimentation.
------ Amrus started his career innocently enough, signing on as an agent of the Pathfinder society after graduating from the Arcanimirium in Absalom. Due to deep focus in his studies he had made no real friends to this point. In the Society he continued to favor results over relationships as he gravitated towards the oft-maligned Dark Archive faction. There were two problems with his participation in the society: He had to hand over artifacts acquired on missions and he was in nowhere near the standing needed to access the Dark Archive's innermost secrets. Eventually he falls back to the occupation of his father (a merchant) and puts out a shingle to sell bits of arcane material, both crafted by himself and hidden during Pathfinder missions. Eventually he is caught in the latter is suspended from active missions. As his reputation sours, he heads North across the Inner Sea to Andoran. Here in the Darkmoon Vale he has a nasty run-in with a local lumber consortium and continues on the Druma where he falls in with a mercenary company... Maybe if he participates in another local business before promoting his own he'll see better results. ------ It's unclear what he was seeking from within the Dark Archive, what his ongoing relationship is with his merchant father, or if he even knows who his mother is.
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