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So all of TV, including St. Elsewhere and Tommy Westphal, are just a dream that Desna is having? Figures.Just as long as we don't wake up in PF3 and learn it was ...all just a dream.So... Desna, then? I'd rather have Desna doing that dreaming instead of say, Lamashtu, Z-K, or It might be all ephemeral and whatnot, but at least it's not a raging nightmare. Usually
A purple-scaled 'kobold' steps up onto a crate adorned in the garb of an Eagle Knight. "Ahem. The Sewer Dragons of Absalom have a tradition of referring to themselves as 'truebloods' and dragons as 'true truebloods'. I concur with esteemed Cleaver that we need to step away from the incredibly divisive and non-inclusive terms of our past and move forwards to a greater society for all of our tribes, clans, and other gatherings." They hop down and take the crate with them.
"The Blakros clan sold their own hatchlings to collectors on another plane! There's a special spot in HELL for those kinds of people -- that's not an act of 'Love'. I don't think we should burn down the Museum. We should buy it out and tell the Blakros to just... go somewhere nice and retire forever."
Ikilwa offers to help the Scalebreakers come back to Absalom if they so desire. They will point out that the world they are in is unstable and unsafe and while the Pathfinder Society is trying to help fix it, it looks pretty grim.
Before he departs, though, he gives a full clinic on things that they can use to improve their trap-making skills, as well as inform them that the library is safe -- for now -- with the exception of the Guardian, who might need to be fooled into thinking they are scholars coming to study at the library with no-scale speak from Tian Xia.
"It's very important when dealing with this sort of thing to know what their weaknesses are. Don't use Acid or Fire, and they hate being shattered like glass. Don't let them copy you, because they always get things backwards..." Ikilwa begins as they raise their shield and attempts to take a whack at the one in front of them.
"Someone that's NOT Ikilwa should be picking up those mirror shards, maybe spread them out among people until we're sure we've got them all. We might have to put the mirror back together to fix everything."
"Oh, rot-ore!" the kobold begins then stops. "No-scales call it 'viridium'. It's a bad metal. Don't see this very often. It causes you to get sick and start losing limbs and guts if you're not careful with it. Burning doesn't help, best option is lead-lined box if you have it. Definitely need to warn people about that!"
Ikilwa looks at the Public health book, scans a few pages, then shakes their head and is *about* to fling the book in frustration when they realize that even that would be destroying art, so they very carefully, slowly, and deliberately place it in an inconvenient location that is not the carrying bag. "Worthless. If someone wants to double-check for amusement is okay, but doesn't match writing style of other books, is more like someone pretended to be somewhere and wrote huge epic pile of sewer solids about it." "It was so horrible the ants didn't even want to eat it. or use it for nesting materials!" The Eagle Knight then pulls out a healing stick, and motions for others to do the same if they have them.
"You present some valid points, Kimiya! Just because you may not have had the huge educational background that some of us have doesn't mean your points are invalid or should be discounted!" Ikilwa is encouraging in a non-condescending fashion as they light up at the discussion and research between the party members.
Ikilwa, despite feeling pretty confident about no traps being nearby *does* take the extra care to look for another trigger or trap. "Be ready to heal me if anything happens, but this one appears clear."
The bard will walk over and pick up the wand, weigh it for a second or two, then get a bright toothy grin and twirl it around their fingers! "It's the sort of wand that Janira wishes she could use! It produces a shout that can cause great damage to people and fragile things in an arc. I'm probably the best one to use it, but we'll have to be really, really careful because this place may have a lot of ancient antique art pieces and we can't destroy art if we can possibly help it."
Ikilwa blinks as they watch the construct, then back up a bit. "I... am an idiot. An idiot with a questioning mind and a keen eye for detail." Ikilwa begins as they look to the party. "Understand that the first part of having a disguise is knowing that you belong where you're disguised as. Don't do things that put you as out of place. Respect the security and the rules..."
"...disguise is a state of mind, not just draperies or clothing. Belonging here is a state of mind. Cross the bridge as if we own it, not as if we're thieves here to steal money."
Here is the problem I'm running into with posting: We were told some information by the GM. We were then told that we didn't have access to the info after we responded to it. We came up with a reasonable work-around to have that information that fit the narrative. However, there hasn't been a response from half the party. In addition, Ikilwa has had a very bad experience with "Disguise as 'x'" recently, so much so that there was a near-complete mission failure due to it. Unfortunately, they have not had a chance to retrain or pick up the skill, and it's really not in their personality as they're pretty straight-forward about things. Apologies on not posting a response, there are probably a couple of ways or party resources that might help with this encounter, but I haven't been able to figure them out myself based on the above.
"Your ways are different, but wise. Teaching no-scales how to be like truebloods sometimes seem impossible, but keep trying just the same." "We should get moving, though."
Ikilwa plays a little game with the reflections, appearing serious to get a reflection to look jovial, then jovial to get them to look serious, then serious again. "Okay, so the first thing to check is whether there's a secondary or tertiary trap behind what was already placed here. The head of the statue is a nice move, but given that we've been told that the ghosts like to re-purpose defensive devices, there may be a trap at the disabling point..."
"Okay. Once you do that, then you can move up and take a look at the obvious trap. If anyone who knows how to take one apart wants to help, you are welcome to! Is how you learn more about such."
"Greetings! I am Ikilwa Underfoot. My companions can introduce themselves. What is the manner of your congratulations? We do not want to fight but will if we must. And I was just telling the team here that when a trap is placed, a trap is watched -- thank you for demonstrating that." The purple-scaled reptilian smiles. "Are you more comfortable speaking in growl grumble hisss murmur?" Draconic: "...the True Tongue?"
"Let's see what we've got here. Sometimes traps are designed by an entire team, as each member of a team has their own strengths whether it be pulleys, dead-falls, sharp pointy-parts that sort of thing. Other times it's the work of a single master designer. While the action of the device is a signature, no craftier worth their scales skips out on this most important part. For truebloods -- er 'kobolds' as some folks call them -- a well-crafted trap is the pinnacle of efficiency, resources, inspiration, and design. If they are created by a master they will hit ALL of these benchmarks PLUS have the capability of being reset after being triggered. In some snarls -- or 'kobold warrens', truebloods even have contests to test out traps, with the unlucky or those being punished being sent to test the designs. Part of the reason I started learning how to see and craft traps was because I kept asking 'why?' all the time, and that's a big no-no in a culture that largely answers with 'because I said so'." The purple-scaled Pathfinder pauses briefly, both to catch their breath and to not wear out the audience with a complete verbal barrage. "In other kobold snarls, traps are used as a polite 'Please Go Away' sign -- and they are VERY obvious in both design and lethality. Truebloods generally understand this, and it takes a significant reason for someone to engage in open warfare between communities. Generally speaking, if two 'warrens' want to communicate, there are designated envoys who are very good with the talking that have their scales painted to show that they are a diplomat of sorts. These diplomats aren't as skilled with traps, but make up for it in sheer negotiation skill, capable of talking even stubborn dwarves down from genocidal warfare." Having almost shifted to 'lecturer mode' before pausing yet again to let their audience catch up, Ikilwa continues... "Traps and other devices are a force multiplier in terms of defense. They cannot defend a location effectively by themselves in the long term. Eventually someone will come along -- usually Pathfinders -- and disable the trap, and at that point if there is no one watching over that point of failure it becomes an open road into a snarl. If a trap is obvious, then that trap is more than likely being watched to see what if any intruders are capable of. Traps are also impersonal, like the wrath of a mighty dragon. A trap doesn't typically care if their target is a noscale, vermin, or even a trueblood. Also like a dragon -- particularly if the device resets -- it is still there, and generally can't be negotiated with. It can be avoided, disabled, or suborned, but very rare in the category of legend are the 'deathtrap oozes', which 'look' like a trap... and then eat wary trap disablers." Ikilwa takes a sip from their waterskin. "Sorry for the lecture, I really, really delved into how to get into trap design when I started learning how to make them, and it's a bit of a passion for me..." Then, as if realizing they were asked a question... "Oh, right, go ahead and give it a go. I don't suggest poking it 'there', over 'there', or right 'here' as those are flimsy work-arounds to ensure that the device is actively disabled." "Oh, right, almost FORGOT! This was made by either a kobold trap-making team or a master trapmaker!"
With the samurai's arrival Ikilwa brightens a bit more, if that was even possible! "Ooh, wow! There's now three times as many scales on this mission compared to my usual missions! Welcome!"
"Now, some people like to put an obvious fix for a trap in a spot where it triggers a different trap. I know I've done this a couple of times in traps I've crafted, and the legendary Grimtooth was infamous for trapping things that seemed completely innocent, and if explorers were wary, their wariness would ALSO get them introuble." Ikilwa meanders as they pull out two sets of tools. One set is the typical picks and locks, and the other one contains well-crafted hammers and the like. "I'm a professional trap-maker -- it's my artwork for the Eternal Rose -- and I'm pretty good at disabling them as well. I wouldn't be adverse to help, though -- sometimes a second set of eyes and hands is useful." With the handle being pointed out, the kobold will glance to Elmon. "You want lead on this, or back-up?" Regardless of that decision, Ikilwa goes into an incredibly detailed breakdown of how to deal with traps to help any party members willing to look at it a bit of a boost.
The short purple dragon-person grins toothily and has to fight dancing excitedly on the chair they're atop as Grisaia enters, immediately recognizing the iconography of her equipment! In response the dragon-person pulls aside a few of the chain sections to reveal a rainbow-hued band of scales around their midsection before smoothing their outfit back into place. "It is great to see a devotee of the Eternal Rose! And even better to see one that uses the glaive -- I considered that shtick but there's some Taldan guy that's got a whole thing lined up with a glaive, a buckler, a flag... Bit too much on bringing everyone else's spirits up and not enough on defense if you ask me!" Ikilwa will pat the heavy wooden shield on their back. "I prefer to not get hit if I can help it, a buckler just isn't enough if you know what I mean?"
"Hello Elmon and Slyder! It is nice to see strong backs and more scales in the party." The kobold will hold out their hand for Slyder to sniff if they want. "Not food, Slyder!" "If my style seems familiar it's because I learned from one of the greatest Pathfinders EVER in Janira Gavix, and I liked her way of doing things!"
"Are we getting anyone else for this mission? My experience over many missions has indicated that at least four, sometimes more, are necessary to complete missions without people dying horribly!"
"That bridge looks too easy. Be very careful, there may be things on it like traps. Might even be a mimic." the excitable smoldragon offers as they start looking over the path, the river around the bridge.
Brief note:
An eager purple-scaled reptilian entity that's approximately two and a half feet tall sits on top of a chair -- to provide height and not show disrespect. They are clad in exceptionally shiny and lightweight chain armor, and an Andoran-styled tri-corner hat rides atop their head. Their outer clothing is evocative of the Eagle Knights of Andoran. "Captain Ikilwa Underfoot reporting for duty, sir!"
"Are there any restrictions on bringing our own storage items to help gather up the information? Bearing in mind the danger of those things interacting and the instability of the location, of course!"
*a purple kobold dressed in the uniform of an Eagle Knight gets a box* *sees box is too short, puts another box atop it, then clambers atop it* "Ahem. It is a fervent hope of this trueblood that future Society agents will not have to go through as severe a vetting process as goblins did. The freedom of truebloods is foundationally important to the freedom of Absalom and the Pathfinder Society." *they formally salute, then hop down*
The Dawnflower approves of aliases and filking. ~Dervish dance if you want to ... ~ "Therefore it is the obligation of all members of the Pathfinder
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