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You'd better make that Reflex save ;)
Reflex DC 14 for half
Reflex DC 14 for half
Gotta be honest, this is not a total surprise. If you’re not having fun, brother there isn’t much point. Thank-you for all your hard work and allowing me to finish my first AP book EVA! Arcilde, Lily and Gilstrom, it has been a blast! But this is hardly goodbye. I’m sure we’ll get to game together in one form or another again. I can always recycle Gervase as a PFS character. In the meantime, if anyone is considering a project for the future, please keep me in mind ;)
I love this game! I'm sorry Dorothy feels the way she does -- but totally understand it. I vote for a new recruit. Perhaps a private invite to someone one of us knows? Are you still having fun with the game, GM Rinaldo?
“What the heck is going on? The animals are going cra-cra.” Gervase turns an anxious face to her companions. “Could it be a haunt, Arcilde?” “Gilstrom, what is Persephone saying?”
“Look there, to the left! NO, the other left, Gilstrom!” Gervase’s jabs her left index finger rapidly. “The water’s churning like a gale’s a-blowing.” The ranger raises the enchanted spear in her right fist ready to skewer an enemy that presents itself to her in melee or at range.
Work has been a madhouse again today. It's gotta settle down soon. I'll get a post up inside the next 6 hours.
"Dolphins are immune to ghoul paralysis, right? I think it's dolphins." “Ghouls, yes. But if they’re ghasts, being a dolphin offers no protection.” Gervase sheds her breastplate and tosses the mithral chemise over her head, before shimmying into it. Drawing the Grindylow Queen’s spear she follows Gilstrom down to the beach, checking for threats as she goes. “Sledge, are you there?”
SLEDGE She points at her right foot HEEL “Coming, Gervase?” “You know I’ve always got your back, brother.” Peering into the ruin inside the breakwater, the dive ranger suddenly stops to place a hand on the gnome’s shoulder. “I think we could use that stepping stone to enter the building without having to enter the water, Gilstrom.” “I mean if you’re getting on Persephone, no worries. It’s just another option.”
“OK, maybe something was left behind in the flooded buildings. Let’s go take a look.” Gervase glances between both buildings from the party’s Cliffside perch. “I’m thinking the one inside the breakwater first.” “And I dunno about undead sea critters. I was thinking Ulfen aquatic ghouls and the like. But I reckon we’re gonna find out.”
“I figure it’s unlikely there’d be anything worth facing tides of undead for in the lower buildings.” A studious Gervase looks up from the wayfinder in her hand. “I think we should strike out overland as Durvin Gest did towards the waterfall.” “What does everyone think?”
“Well, seems you guys were spot-on about staying out of the water.” Gervase’s features pale at the "undead + water" Pathfinder symbols. “Let’s see if I can work out these bearing and distance icons. May I borrow the wayfinder please, Agent Noblewater?”
Gervase notes the others’ concerns and that the old buildings appear to be deserted. I’d be surprised if they are though. Maybe they’re haunted? She then turns her attention back to the deep water surrounding the lower buildings. “IF nothing inhabits the land, it follows any denizens claiming this territory are in the water. As a group, we are probably more effective on land at the moment. So what say we climb the low cliffs HERE, and then walk around the bay towards the cliffside building, on its elevation?” “That way if something comes out of the water to challenge us, we have the advantage of higher ground, and Lily and I can pelt them with missiles. From the upper ruin, we may also get a better view of what’s present at water level.” “I don’t fancy a walk along the beach. We could get ambushed by seaborne opponents or have rocks thrown at us from above.”
“Sounds like the basalt outcrop could be turned into a quarry for the colony. Once we've cleared the area of course.” “…until the incident and we could never get it back out.” Gervase closes her eyes, visibly cringing at this. “Dolphins are so much more clever!” “Oh, you’ll get no argument from me, Gilstrom. Do you know how long it took me to teach him to go bite something?” Gervase grabs Sledge around the neck of his hammer and shakes him from side-to-side. “Who’s a silly mutt? Who’s a silly mutt? It’s YOU, isn’t it?” She looks up grinning. “Now what say we all get wet!”
“They’re actually pretty straight forward. And I thought hand-signals would be best for when we’re underwater.” “That last signal is Sledge’s ‘word’ for you, Lily.” Gervase makes her right hand into a fist and makes a pounding action, like a hammer against an anvil. “That’s Arcilde.” She then makes an up-and-down waving motion with the same hand. “That’s Persephone.” “And finally we have the sign for Gilstrom.” Gervase shows Lily the signal and raises an eyebrow. “What do you think? Controversial I know – but undeniably Gilstrom.”
Gervase remembers the wand of goodberry on the day the Ulfen settlement is re-discovered. :
“I think Gilstrom and I should each carry a potion of CMW into battle, while Arcilde and Lily share the three CLW potions between them. Thoughts?” While the others think over the plan, she readies Sledge for his first mission with the team. The young shark swims about her playfully – seemingly oblivious to what’s about to happen. He’s got no idea whatsoever. Maybe that’s a good thing? Gervase grabs his dorsal fin to get his attention before signalling her commands silently. She first makes her hands into twin open cups, joining them together atop each other to form an ‘S’ shape. SLEDGE Followed by clenched fists crossed over her chest. GUARD And finally she blows a kiss with her right hand. LILY
“So we’re sharing a wayfinder, Gilstrom. Does that make us Half-finders?” Gervase stifles a <giggle> at the look on Carver’s face, and readies to make a run for it. He’s just not used to briefings with characters like us. I’m sure the Society has never had field agents as madcap as Gilstrom and me! ♒ Gervase stands waist-deep in the water, shading her eyes with her hand as she observes the ruined settlement. “I’m guessing the prize is in the big building on the bluff, but the cliffs are too steep for us to get up there without attracting serious attention.” She nods likes she’s made up her mind. “I think we need to do this in three stages.” “Take the southern outpost, by swimming up to it from the south. That approach should shield us from any unfriendly eyes in the bayside fort or the big house on the hill.” “Once we secure the seaside building, we scout an approach to the next building inside the breakwater. From there we find a route up to the cliffside manor.”
She peers leeward again. “I’m guessing there’s a tunnel leading from the beach to the manor, but there could be a hidden trail we can’t see from here.” “Anyway, first things first. Are we all happy to make an amphibious assault on the outermost building from the south?”
“Oooh, nice one, Gilstrom! I want something moody and anonymous.” She thinks for a while … “How about ‘The Professional.’ Or is that already taken?” I'm not sure 'ow much 'elp I can be at any of them. “C’mon, Arcilde.” Gervase grabs the dwarf around the waist from behind. “You know when our hard knocks Pathfinder life leaves us sad and sorry, we turn to you to make it all better.”
“Is that all? Hey, sign me up too!” I wonder what the ‘Grand Lodge’ is? “When do we get our badges and code names?”
"Will it hurt?" Gervase rubs her jaw thinking ... "Does it involve sacrificing a long-eared rodent on a Gozrehan altar?"
“Mm. It’s a wonder I’m not hoarse from all that convincing I had to do.” Gervase looks from Lily to the others. “Can everyone hear me alright?” I think the Ulfen colony might be the best to start with … traveling along the coast will be safer than traveling inland ... “I agree. Once I’ve collected my shark, I should be good to go. Can I borrow the silver pocket-watch compass again please, Ms Mayor?” The ranger looks innocently at Carver Hastings. “Unless the Pathfinder Society has another way of preventing their agents from getting lost?”
So if we're taking the terrible twosome, Ulfen Settlement first, yes? Also Crass-pics Conglomerate ~ Aspis Consortium I was tossing up using AspiC Consortium -- don't think it would have been any better ...
“Yeah, who would have thought Persephone would get so upset about a little love-bite on the right fluke? I mean he was only playing.” *Innocent look skyward* “He didn’t draw that much blood to warrant what she did in return.” “Speaking of fins.” Attempting to change the subject rapidly ... “What is your philosophy RE: saddle fore or aft of the dorsal fin, Gilstrom?” “And have you thought about trying a belly-saddle so you wouldn’t have to worry about it? It would have the added advantage of allowing you to travel everywhere upside-down.”
Less impressive than I expected the way Gervase talks you folks up … “It is true what they say about Pathfinder tolerance, right Carver?” “I was telling Lily it’s possible for a Pathfinder Death Squad to contain a righteous paladin-monk of Irori, whose sidekick is an atheist goon from Rahadoum.” You turning into a crazy shark lady on me Gervase? “Says someone who dressed up in bunny ears and a cotton-tail for Jestercap. No wait! That was two weeks AFTER Jestercap!” Gervase holds up “picture-frame fingers” in front of Lily. “Watch out for those Crass Pics guys, Lily.”
Persephone is unhappy at having something she has always considered a mortal enemy spending time with her family. “Aww, don’t be like that, Persephone. Just how cute is that lopsided grin?”
“So YOU’RE the hidden Pathfinder, Carver! I never suspected you.” The ranger smiles. “When I was a midshipman, the Andoran navy sponsored a group of Ekujae guerrillas who were being harassed by a perverse group called the Crass-pics Conglomerate.” “Are they anything to do with you?” Gervase uses the apparent naiveté of the question as cover to change tack. “Is Carver coming with us, Ms Mayor? And who owns what we find?” “I mean, the four of us took significant personal risks in the Ioun Tower, but received fair compensation in return.” The dive ranger thinks hard about the options for exploration presented, before finally shrugging. “The lost civilization beyond the waterfall sounds interesting, but I don’t really mind which order we tackle them in.” “Do you think we’d be able to take Persephone and Sledge to that location, Carver?”
Just my opinion, but I think Lily's and my armor is more expendable, Gilstrom. Having you hit hard from dolphin-back is immensely valuable in aquatic situations. You one-shot one of those skum by the beach, yeah? My 2 cp
Yeah, way to go with the good cop/bad cop routine, Freefield you tart! “If we’ve finished with the business formalities, I do have a number of other items that are not for sale at this time, which might pique the interest of an esoteric collector in Avistan or Garund.” Gervase smiles at the trader. “I’d be interested in your appraisal of the value of these pieces and the type of specialist that could repair or restore them and what they might charge.” The pieces:
• Clockwork insect
“I suspect there are plenty more artefacts like these waiting to be discovered on the islands. So if nothing else, I hope this encourages to you return soon so both parties can profit handsomely from the trade.” “Typical adventuring items: belts, headbands, amulets, rings of protection, cracked dusty rose ioun stones, snapleaves, boots of the cat will likely be in demand.” “We’ve also been hit with a number of mental attacks, so anything to help guard against those will also prove profitable, as will items that aid swimming.” ⚓ ⚓ ⚓ On the way to her latest Azlanti lesson with Lyra Heatherly, to be held at Alba Divenaar’s place after drinkies (where the student will also place her 1050gp order with the dwarf), Gervase drops in on Carver Hastings. “I forgot about a flask with the initials E.M. carved into it, that we liberated from the Grindylow Caves way back when. Any chance you could appraise it for us please, Carver?” “Also just let Gilstrom or I know if you or Perrell want to take a look at the Celadon’s garden or the dais of Trident-face, god of the monkey-goblins” “Arcilde and Lily might be too busy to come, but I'll ask them.”
That’s cool that you changed the skum’s weapon into something you thought we would prefer. Here’s a couple of points I find interesting:
• A spear is mechanically superior to a trident in all ways, except for weight. One could argue a trident is more ‘thematically suitable,’ but a spear-fisherwoman might disagree ;) • I think it’s the seaborne quality that is the main benefit (and it DOES help) Gilstrom has Persephone. Lily has the ring of swimming. Gervase has a reasonable swim modifier. I think the seaborne quality would be best in Arcilde’s hands, but if it doesn’t suit her thematically, no worries! We’ll sort something out :)
GM Rinaldo, the Pathfinder/Aspis thing was really just flavor:
In her backstory Gervase helped sail a tiny warship from Andoran to the Mwangi. Given the Eagle Knights association with the PFS, and Magnimar being the “last port of civilised call” before the Shackles/Mwangi, I thought it reasonable she might have been aware of the PF/Aspis rivalry in that city, as a part of the pre-shore leave briefing by her supervisor. Similarly, there is a rumor running through the game about a villager being a secret Pathfinder (no idea if it’s true or not), which I think is an interesting sub-plot – even just for comedic value. In gameplay if I’d gotten a bite with my PF hook, Gervase may have tried to pressure the trader to tell her more about the ‘secrit Passfinder.’ But if you’re uncomfortable with this, no worries I’ll drop it. : I think everything you say about the trade makes sense and is fair. Thank-you for that. OK, so we owe you 1000gp. Guys, I propose taking this from: • Keeping Lily’s chain shirt as just masterwork and NOT +1 (500 gp)
(:
OK, why don’t we try to finalise the purchases thing :) Gilstrom: • Arcilde adds +1 to mwk breastplate for 500gp
Total Cost = 3103gp Lily: • +1 cloak of resistance 1000gp
Total Cost = 5500gp Arcilde: • Arcilde adds +1 to her mwk cold iron battle axe for 2000gp
Total Cost = 2000gp Gervase: • Arcilde adds +1 to mwk breastplate for 500gp
Total Cost = 800gp Subtotal = 11,403gp With the ‘trading power’ leftover, we get: oil of daylight 750gp (full price from Alba, assuming CL 3)
Total = 13,203gp In return, our trading partners get the following *click me*, including all the pink items at full price. Total Value = 13,221.25gp Lily smiles at Goldhawk as she barters with the visiting traders. Remember, a little bit of honey to sweeten the pot... “So, traders. Do we have a deal?”
Yay! Thanks for the re-sizing thing. Boss, I think we are waiting for you to judge whether our high priority wondrous items are available. - 3 x cloaks of protection
Then we can sort out arms, armor, potions and scrolls ;) Sing out, guys if I've got it wrong.
I am going to sort out Sledge's tricks now. I believe at Int=1, he gets 3+1 bonus. I have a question about teaching him to take a rider. Riding (DC 15) An animal trained to bear a rider knows the tricks come, heel, and stay. Training an animal for riding takes three weeks. So if he already knows "heel" does that mean in the future I can train him in two more bonus tricks (come + stay) and then I can ride him into combat?
How Gervase met Sledge: “I’ve heard of Scarzni thugs putting horse’s heads in people’s beds but this is ridicugnome.” Gervase returns from an early morning swim to find Daib of Daib+Geoff ‘The Throttler Boys’ Fame upset on the doorstep of the Levin Farmhouse, holding a large pail. “OK, I believe you. Eliza Hanver’s hatched a sea monster down the well as a warning to the town …” “Yes I’m sure it gave you quite the surprise, Daib – but if you wake Lily up at this hour you’re gonna get more than just a shock. Now let me grab my gear and let’s go take a look.”
This is like déjà vu – all over again! With Lily’s everyburning torch shoved in her belt, Gervase hauls herself down the bucket rope, just like she did a few months ago when the Troubleshooters first discovered the Crysmal caverns. This time she winds herself beneath the cave mouth, until she’s just above the waterline. Tying off the line like she’d done countless times in the navy, Gervase removes the torch and scans the surface of the water, just as a dorsal fin breaks the surface sluggishly. Her first reaction is Gilstrom is playing some grand practical joke – with Daib and Persephone as willing co-conspirators. Nah. Persephone is way too sensible to get involved with one of Gilstrom’s mad schemes … Unless the ‘sea monster’ is Gilstrom himself with a shark-fin strapped to his back? A tentative prod with the blunt end of her trident confirms this is no amphibious prankster – indeed, to the ranger’s trained eye Daib has been spooked by an adolescent male Great Hammerhead Shark. How did he get in here? And why isn’t he thrashing the water like an apex predator who’s just had dinner home-delivered? Trusting her instincts, Gervase eases into the water to give the lethargic leviathan a closer examination.
Perhaps ten minutes later, she calls back up the shaft to an anxious Daib. “It’s a young adult shark! Very sick by the looks of him. Erastil knows how he got down here, but we’re going to get him out.” “Go fetch Arcilde, the Governor or somebody else sensible and ask them to hook up a harness at the well collar to winch down to me. Oh and see if Gilstrom will lend us that aquarium-on-wheels he designed so Persephone could buy her own squid-snacks from Anya’s fish stand.” By the time the hammerhead has been winched to the surface, a number of townsfolk have turned up with buckets of seawater to help douse the patient and his healer. Once the shark is in the shallows of the bay, half the town is present to share in the environmental triumph! Sadly, despite the application of numerous CLW spells from Arcilde, Father Eamon and Gervase herself, it’s clear to everyone the Great Hammerhead isn’t going to survive the ordeal. With its mighty jaws working up and down as if to say, Thanks, anyway … the shark rolls over for the final time – and pops a miniature version of itself out of its hindquarters! But I could have sworn it was a male! Perhaps I shouldn’t rely on Lily so much for nature knowledge? As the frisky foot-long fish weaves it ways between Gervase’s legs in a continuous figure-8, the Bellis Belle appears as if summoned, calling out to her girlfriend from the safety of the beach. “Congratulations, Goldhawk! You’re officially a mom!”
Along with with the supply ship, a trader has arrived with two ships filled with various trade goods, hoping to trade with you. Any purchases you might normally try to make in a small town might be made here. “OK, OK. A lot of the stuff we have to trade is fairly mundane, but you won’t find: A Homemaker’s Guide to Ioun Stones in any edition, let alone a first anywhere on the planet.” “Along with two hundred ancient Azlanti coins, the Mordant Spire tablet and the original coffer of extinct wood it came in, I want full price. You know you will clean up with these items at a Pathfinder or Aspis lodge in Magnimar -- your next port of call!” “I’m after a belt of mighty con, three cloaks of resistance and a wand of CLW ... Have you even seen a Pathfinder quartermaster's store? Those are so, so common compared with what I’m offering.” “And if you don’t have a CLW wand I can always source multiple scrolls of the spell locally from the Church of Abadar. And I make my own wooden scroll cases, you know.” “In fact … maybe I’ll do just that, unless you make it worth my while. Shopping local keeps our economy strong according to Father Kurvis.”
"There you are, Lily! What are you doing out he..?" "Oh. Hi, BUNNY." Gervase flops down beside her bestie, chatter overflowing. “I finally finished the second bow. Took me 44 days. Yes, 44 exactly! I was counting.” “But when I tried to trade them, I was offered just 75gp in trade goods. 75 gold sails! Can you believe it? I’d make FAR more as a fulltime Advanth Angel!” Gervase puts a melodramatic hand to her forehead. “I’ve given up my dream of becoming Bow Queen of Talmandor’s Bounty. In fact, I’ve signed a memorandum of understanding with Gilstrom that I won’t start up a rival fletching business until he has trained his assassin vines to harvest bow wood from their own bodies.” Suddenly aware of Lily’s silence, Gervase pauses to put an arm around her. “Are you still upset about that business at the Ioun Tower? Tell me.” The ranger sits in the dark for as long as it takes. Just listening. Not judging. She adds the occasional “Uh, huh” or “I see” from time to time, but otherwise lets Lily go. When Lily’s finished, Gervase remains quiet for a moment or two before saying. “Well, I just want to say thank-you for doing what you did, Lily. If we had been a hair-breadth’s less fortunate, a couple of us may have found ourselves strapped to a table in that horrid place.” The tall woman rises and offers Lily a hand. “Now come to bed. I need your help in the morning. I want to bake a cake for Fathers Eamon and Kurvis.” “You’ve heard of themed Birthday Cakes, right? Well Gilstrom says I should do a themed ‘Get Well Soon’ cake, topped with a winged Assassin Vine presenting the perfect longbow to Erastil Himself, or a copse of Assassin Vine archers defending the Golden Vault on Axis …”
GM Rinaldo, if Gervase took the Boon Companion feat at level 5 or 7, would that mean she could
No sweat! Gervase Level Four +9hp (die 6, con 1, fc 1, toughness 1)
I have several tasks on my list for Gervase: • Sort out Animal Companion + stats (I am leaning Hammerhead shark. When else am I going to be able to have an aquatic AC, right Gilstrom? ;)
You can't quite shop like you were in Absalom, but go ahead and make your shopping lists … Copy that, boss! Guys, I’m thinking between Arcilde for arms + armor, Alba Divenaar for potions/alchemical stuff and Father Kurvis for scrolls, the main items we are looking for from outsiders are: ❧ 3 x +1 cloaks of protection
That’s my list of outsider items anyway, GM Rinaldo.
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