Aseve Seeker's page

Carbrook listens to the arguments put forward by Emrys and the others about what to do with the corpse. After a minute or two's thought he says 'your point about transport of the body is well made; if we encountered trouble then something may happen to it and he may be denied his path to the next realm. I shall return it to Cassomir and see that it is secured until such time as it can be returned to his fellows. Valendrian, will you accompany me?'

'We will make our own way to these caves at Tharn and rendezvous with you there - perhaps we can find out a little more abou the area while we are in Cassomir. Emrys may also be correct that Greendale, and thus the likely source of his assailaints, is the next settlement. If we are to root out these cultists after locating Emile, then best watch your tongues as you pass through lest you draw attention to your purpose'

Aseve holds up a hand. "Hang on. I should go with you. I may not know anything about these Five, but I can find out. I've a lot of practice in that area."

Ellaria wrote:

It sounds as if the Holy Five know something of the apprentice, but it also sounds as if he needs assistance. I recommend interring the body here and noting its location. Once we retrieve Emile we can take him and the note to the Holy Five, and inform them where they can locate the remains. Emrys smiles. At that point I'd be up to confronting the cult presence in Greendale, should any here desire it.

"I agree with Emrys here... our priority is the young apprentice. However, I think that this Holy Five should see him only after he has seen his master, and we given the reward we were promised. If we find ourselves sufficiently bored later on, then we may return to this Greendale."

Aseve nods. "I'm good at wheeling information out of people. How about we stop after collecting the apprentice at a town, and I see who these Holy Five are? If we can meet them, we will, and tell them what has happened. If not, we continue our journey back to the city."

Aseve frowns but seems to be out of arguments.

I have doubts about bringing the body with us, though, if we continue on our current course. The fact that the fellow remains astride his horse indicates we're the first to encounter him. Which in turn would indicate that Greendale is the first settlement we'll be coming to. Emrys peers down the road as he talks, as if to catch site of a town in the distance.

If cultists in Greendale were the ones to kill him, as the letter suggests, I doubt they would be too appreciative of travelers bringing their dirty laundry back home and airing it for all to see.

Aseve frowns. "Emrys, given that he requests to be returned there in spite of this fact, I assume he knows best. Or do you think that we should leave his body for the next traveler to find and loot?

Knowledge (local) 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Aseve raises an eyebrow. "Odd. Emile seems to be of importance to these people. I say we go to Greendale. Or, if you like, we could split up. There's more to this job than meets the eye, I think."

Aseve watches, seeming concerned but uninterested in dismounting again.

Aseve wrote:

"Does anybody have a stepstool?"

"'fraid not. Suppose you might use that thing over there."

He points to a box or bucket somewhere nearby.

Brayker continues to stand ready, comforting his horse (and himself).

Aseve looks irritated as she walks over and picks up the bucket. She places it next to the pony and manages to climb on.

Aseve Seeker wrote:

Aseve tries to get the pony to kneel.

Handle Animal 1d20+5

The pony, so soft and warm before seems to have been transfixed to stone. It's legs are now rigid and it doesn't look as though kneeling is going to be an option.

Aseve smiles nervously and taps her cane. She looks about. "Does anybody have a stepstool?"

Aseve tries to get the pony to kneel.
Handle Animal 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

Once at the stables, Brayker collects a horse for himself and a pony for Aseve.

While waiting for the rest of the crew, Brayker sort of gets to know his horse. He has a quiet conversation face to face with the animal. The idea of riding a horse sort of makes him nervous.
"I don't like the idea of ridin' ya any better than you, so let's keep it civil, bub. I respect ya an' everything, but I just don't like my feet bein' too far from the ground. Understand?"

He stares right back at the serpent, eyes locked until he moves on.
"That's a mighty strange pet ya got there."

"Here, I got ya this."
He hands the reign of the pony over to Aseve (the halfling one :P).

Aseve smiles. "Thank you." She takes the reigns but, like Brayker, seems reluctant to climb on.

As the group assembles in the stable, you are all aware that the gate indicated by Jacques is actually the main gate of Cassomir. It leads east through the Blackwood Swamp and a bridge crosses the city's moat directly outside the gates.

The stable is conveniently situated next to the gate and is bustling with trade. When you show the letter from Jacques, you are presented with an array of horses and ponies to choose from.

You can choose a horse or pony. What it looks like and its name is entirely up to you. If you don't have a Bestiary (or even if you do) the stats for the animal can be found here.

With mounts and supplies sorted, the guards wave you to go through the main gates, its portcullis raised.

Aseve glances at her snake. "I'm sorry, I just remembered. Aseve isn't very quick, so I'll have to dispel him for now. I'll leave him until we start going."

Hazard eyes the creature with Aseve Seeker as it slithers in. Slowly edging forward, he inquires, "What is that?"

Aseve smiles. "This is Aseve, my eidolon. He's coming in case we run into any trouble."

It seems to be a great green snake, with a catlike head like a goblin snake's. It is covered with a thin layer of black fuzz. It hisses at Aseve.

Aseve smiles and strokes the snake along its neck. The beast purrs. "Come on, Aseve, we need to get going. I'll explain on the way." She leads her eidolon through the streets, ignoring the stares of passersby.

On the way out, Aseve grabs Brayker's food. She then limps over to a quiet spot, sits down, and begins chanting.
A minute later, there is a flash, and a bizarre creature appears.

Aseve smiles and moves to follow, then stops. She sighs and turns to Brayker. "Brayker, can you get my horse for me? I just remembered I need to summon my eidolon."

Aseve smiles. "I'd be happy to help."

The door opens and a middle aged man in flowing brown robes is standing there. He's approximately six feet tall and is wiry in build. He has short brown hair, with some grey at the temples.

His face looks friendly but his voice belies that impression.

"Have none of you ever heard of knocking?"

He turns quickly and walks into the house, leaving the door open behind him.

Aseve flushes and follows the man.

Aseve wrote:

Aseve looks a bit confused. She stands, staring at him, for a few moments. Then she laughs. "Sounds good, then. So who are you looking for?"

Looking distinctly more solemn, he says, "Her name's Evelyn. Likely dead. Either way, I don't much care fer slavers ... So when's this gate gonna open anyway? I haven't got all day!"

Brayker lets out a grunt and gives the gate a good shake.

Aseve looks uncomfortable at Brayker's temporary loss of composure. "That may not be the polite thing to do, Brayker. I'm sure our mysterious benefactor is going as fast as he can."

Aseve wrote:

Aseve hesitates. "Um...I am sorry, what?"

"We're travel mates now. Ain'tcha listenin? I mean, you can say no an' all, but I wouldn't advise it," he says with a big ol' grin.

Aw, shucks. Thanks! Vigilance is my game.

Aseve looks a bit confused. She stands, staring at him, for a few moments. Then she laughs. "Sounds good, then. So who are you looking for?"

Aseve wrote:

Her smile freezes, then slowly vanishes. "I--well--it--" she stammers. She takes a deep breath, and her smile returns, though notably smaller. "I can assure you, my search is going fine. I'm just stopping here because I was offered information on Benhov's destination."

Sense Motive 1d20 + 12

Ellaria wrote:

"I'm really happy to hear that. Finding slavers and rescuing innocent children is always a noble thing to do. Surely you don't intend to do this all by yourself? I've heard slavers aren't the nicest people around"

"She don't gotta by her lonsies. I'm goin the same way. Enemy of my enemy an' all that! Whaddya say?"

Aseve wrote:

"I hope to buy him from them, if I can drum up enough money. Otherwise I'll simply take him by force."

"They might be deservin a bit 'o force either way, if you ask me. Ha ha

ha!"

Aseve hesitates. "Um...I am sorry, what?"

Aseve Seeker wrote:

Her smile freezes, then slowly vanishes. "I--well--it--" she stammers. She takes a deep breath, and her smile returns, though notably smaller. "I can assure you, my search is going fine. I'm just stopping here because I was offered information on Benhov's destination."

Sense Motive roll:

** spoiler omitted **

Ellaria's eyes narrow a bit as she listens to the halfling's answer, then smiles while responding. "I'm really happy to hear that. Finding slavers and rescuing innocent children is always a noble thing to do. Surely you don't intend to do this all by yourself? I've heard slavers aren't the nicest people around". While she talks, her eyes stay focused on the halfling, while giving the smallest nod of her head to her and leaving the subject tactfully.

She shrugs, nodding just slightly at Ellaria's change of subject. "I hope to buy him from them, if I can drum up enough money. Otherwise I'll simply take him by force."

Aseve Seeker wrote:

She laughs. "Yes, it's a nasty business. I owe the family a lot, so I agreed to retrieve their child. It's been a few months now." She seems a bit troubled for an instant, then her smile returns. "After this the debt will be reversed, I hope."

Ellaria looks at the halfling, then says empathically, "I understand it isn't going so well lately. Do you have any leads you can pursue, or is your search stuck for now? I'd be glad to offer help with information if I can while we're waiting here".

Her smile freezes, then slowly vanishes. "I--well--it--" she stammers. She takes a deep breath, and her smile returns, though notably smaller. "I can assure you, my search is going fine. I'm just stopping here because I was offered information on Benhov's destination."

Aseve Seeker wrote:

"I'm happy to make your acquaintance, Carbrook. Are you a worshiper of Pharasma, then?"

'I pay my respects to the Lady of the Graves, as all members of my profession do. But my concern is not how the souls of the departed are judged by her, rather that their transition from life to afterlife is orderly, and that what is left behind is allowed to become part of the natural cycle of death and rebirth; Alseta is my mistress' he says closing his eyes for a moment at the mention of his Goddess's name.

"Your profession?" she asks.

Aseve wrote:

She grins. "Pleased to meet you, Brayker.

"I'm looking for the boy because it's my duty. I'm his nursemaid, you see. He was kidnapped by slavers a little less than a year ago, and now I'm following his trail." She taps her cane.

"I hate slavers..." he growls, "We'll get along just fine."

She laughs. "Yes, it's a nasty business. I owe the family a lot, so I agreed to retrieve their child. It's been a few months now." She seems a bit troubled for an instant, then her smile returns. "After this the debt will be reversed, I hope."

Carbrook acknowledges Emrys' greeting, and nods briefly when he mentions talking privately at a later time. 'I trust all those souls who made the journey today have arrived safely' he says, 'although the city is likely to display the unfortunates on the gibbets rather than return their earthly remains to the soil as would be proper'. His distaste for the treatment of the criminals' corpses seems palpable, if somewhat strange.

Turning once more to the halfling woman, he removes his hat revealing black hair tinged with grey in a sharp widow's peak. Holding the hat in front of his chest, as a priest might hold a prayer book, he inclines his head respectfully and say 'my apologies, Carbrook is my name'.

He replaces his hat, and stands back, his gloved hands clasped in front of him. And waits.

She performs a mixture of bow and curtsy. "I'm happy to make your acquaintance, Carbrook. Are you a worshiper of Pharasma, then?"

Aseve wrote:

Aseve sighs. "You have yet to answer that question myself, but I suppose I'll go first. I'm seeking a young elf child by the name of Benhov. The note said that they could provide me with the information for a 'small favor'. Of course, it's not the first time somebody's sent me a note like that, but it does have the strangest delivery method yet." She smiles. "Your turn."

"Why ya lookin for this kid? Just so happens I'm searchin for someone myself. Has nothin ta do with the note though. Note says sumthin 'bout an incarnation. Peaked my interest, ya know," says Brayker as he taps on his wooden symbol of a rose growing from a bloody street.

Aseve wrote:

She looks around. "So none of us know what this is about?"

"No idea. Name's Brayker, by the by."

She grins. "Pleased to meet you, Brayker.

Turning to the halfling, the seriousness on Emrys' face is replaced with a grin once more. "Not anymore, I assure you."

The halfling gazes at him for a moment, then nods and smiles again. "Alright. Sorry, I'm nervous. So what sort of person here would use rats as messengers?"

Earnest's ghoulish appearance is suddenly shattered as Emrys firmly claps a hand on the man's shoulder in greeting. "Carbrook! I never imagined I'd be running into you in Cassomir, of all places. Still ensuring the dead can travel to Pharasma's Boneyard in peace?"

The inquisitor draws closer to the man, and in a lower voice as not to be overheard by the others he adds, "My business in Oppara has concluded, though as to whether its end was satisfactory is a complicated affair. We can discuss the matter later, if you wish."

Aseve sees Emrys whisper something to Carbrook but doesn't catch what he says. Her smile falters. "Is there something wrong?" she asks, looking agitated.

Carbrook's eyes narrowed at the sight of the others.

'An interesting gathering' he thought. Scanning the assembly, his gaze alighted momentarily on a couple of faces he found familiar, although he couldn't immediately place. One that he did recall, however, was the young man with the scarf.

He strode over to him and with a small bow said 'Good day, master Korvyn. It appears our paths cross once more. I trust the matter in Oppara was concluded to your satisfaction?'

Up close, he takes the chance to mentally note some details about the others.

At the halfling's question, he turns to face her and replies 'regrettably not I, my lady'. As he looms over her, his gaunt features, sunken eyes and sallow complexion give him the air of a ghoul sizing up its next victim...

Aseve looks at him steadily. "And what's your name?"

Hazard extends his other crumb-encrusted hand to Aseve, "That's just fine, little girl, manners don't concern me overmuch. I am Doctor Hazard... that means expert, or authority in a certain field of study. Maybe someday, you can..." Thelonious' bleached white face turns bright red, as he finally gets a good look at Aseve. Retracting his hand to wipe at the lenses on his cap, "My apologies madam, these, um, blasted things, so dirty you can't, um, see through..."

Mumbling, "...really done it this time Finigan."

Aseve smiles. "Oh, that's fine, Doctor. A lot of people make that mistake."

Brayker sizes up the group and looks up and down the gates.

"Hopefully this don't take too long."
He crosses his arms and taps his foot impatiently.
"So whaddya'll doin here?"

Aseve sighs. "You have yet to answer that question myself, but I suppose I'll go first. I'm seeking a young elf child by the name of Benhov. The note said that they could provide me with the information for a 'small favor'. Of course, it's not the first time somebody's sent me a note like that, but it does have the strangest delivery method yet." She smiles. "Your turn."

Looking down at the halfling and Ellaria, Thelonious replies, "I am pursuing scientific knowledge... and you can't have it." Looking about, Hazard notices that the rat is gone, "Blast! You've made me lose my rat!"

Dropping to the ground, Thelonious, pulls out some crumbs and begins making 'rat noises' as he imagines them. Scuttling around he comes upon a pair of rather nice shoes. Quickly standing and dusting himself off, he extends his crumb-covered hand to Valerion, "How do you do Val? I hope you made it off the Sea Devil's Maiden without further trouble from that cur of a captain and his crew... some people just don't respect science like they should."

The halfling smiles hesitantly. "I think we've reached our destination. Why were you following the rat as well?"

The young halfling girl looks up, seeming bemused. She adjusts her headscarf and taps the ground with her cane. "Hello, I suppose. Any idea why we're all chasing rodents?"

Aseve blinks, and begins following the rat. At least she can get away from those awful gallows. She limps heavily on her cane, looking down at the rodent. "Go on, then," she says to it quietly. "I haven't all day."
It scurries off, and she moves quickly to follow it. The quick sound of her cane against the ground is a startling sound in the otherwise more or less quiet proceedings.

Monday's good for me.
Actually, since my character may be one of the most mobile characters here (she's moving from city to city pretty quickly, usually only stopping for a week or so), it's possible she's met everybody here. Of course, it'd probably be a bit of a 'hey, that person over there looks familiar' thing, but it's food for thought.

I am done, I think.

Okay, here's my character so far. Note that she's named herself after her own eidolon, to avert any later confusion.