Hope to be back eventually. Blessed be.
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Jaym'row makes a mental note to spend some time at the cafe where Stenni works to keep an eye on her co-crewmember.
She turns to Jaym'row and whispers, "Do you have anything for these cramps? I don't know how you people stand it!" "There are herbal concoctions that can help. If you want to make your situation useful, set down in writing all the ways men treat you differently thinking you are a woman. Encourage all the male crew to change their womanizing habits to make life more bearable for us, the 'fairer sex.'"
Thanks.
Thanks. My fever has gone away but my throat is still sore and I have to rest a lot. This is worse than the dreaded 'Con Crude' I've hear convention goers complain about.
Jaym'row gives a report on what she overheard while the court entertainer turned into a tree, regarding the plot to apprehend a fey such as naiad to gain some occult power. This gives proper context to the discovery of the naiad in the cage where the bear was fought. She also repeats the woman's warning not to get involved and perhaps expect a request for help. When poor Stenni arrives and reports getting pinched while working as a barmaid, Jaym'row takes her aside and says, "I've been dealing with such advances for a while now. I've give you some good retorts to embarrass such perpetrators and earn you a bit of respect for standing up for yourself." Sharp-eyed observers of Jaym'row might notice her polishing a small red gemstone at odd moments.
I came down with COVID over the weekend, so my posting will be less frequent for a few days. I'll try to make sufficient posts to keep things moving, but 'bot me if needed. My symptoms are not life threatening, just annoying (sore throat, some coughing, slight fever). Hope to be better soon.
I'll be out of town at a Steampunk convention this weekend. 'Bot me if needed. If Jaym'row spots a pickpocket, she won't necessarily do anything to interfere unless it looks like someone is taking candy from a baby or something equally nefarious. She will perhaps approach the pickpocket and use what she knows as leverage to learn about the criminal underbelly of the fair community.
Jaym'row has no interest in any of the auction pieces. Instead she amuses herself by pretending to be focused on the auction, but shifts around and watches for pickpockets, which are attracted to such events as flies to horse dung.
Jaym'row looks disappointed for a moment. "I'll worry more if you don't do that again," she whispers and winks. After listening to Jaym'row's story, Syper chuckles. "Why she'd think I have any self-control is quite beyond me." "Self-control can be overrated."
GM:
Jaym'row nods, acknowledging the stern advice has been understood. "My group is in town on other business but if you need allies at any point, we are a clan of our own now and a force to be reckoned with." Jaym'row wanders along, drawn by the dulcet tones and harmonic stylings of Syper. "Have wa got a deal with the glass maker?" She looks self-satisfied as only a catfolk female can, smiling and joking with all. In between jests, she speaks softly, saying, "I have news of some importance. I'll share it when we are alone." When that time comes, she tells the story of her adventure on the streets.
GM: Jaym'row pulls her violin halfway out of its sheath, saying, "Music for starters. Once I have people's attention, I tell jokes and stories. For example, have you heard the one about the adventurers who fought a fierce polar bear and in the process freed a naiad who had been captured and put in a cold iron cage, before her captors were eaten by said bear? The naiad's name was Naïssala, by the way."
GM: Jaym'row gives a please mew and owns up to her shadow work. "Professional curiosity. We're in similar lines of work. I expect you know a lot of ways an entertainer can earn some coin around here. I'm Jaym'row. New in town."
She glances after the two fellows who conversed in the shade of her tree-form and added, "I also think I know something about what those two were talking about and it does not sound like it's anything a free spirit approve of."
GM: Jaym'row commits the salient points of the overheard conversation and the features of the speakers. She is very curious about the tree, but feels it more important to discover more about the burgher and the ruffian. She glances around to note some landmarks to identify the location of the tree, then after giving the others a modest head start, she commences her shadowing.
Hazzah!
Since Jay'mrow knows little about the crafting of glass nor the magic that apparently will be infused into the ordered lens, Jaym'row waits a few heartbeats after Freya leaves and excuses herself and leaves the shop as well. She is curious about the woman, who seems to have a similar job to the one Jaym'row practiced before this voyage took her into the realm of an adventurer. She follows her, trying to keep herself lost in the crowd. She just wants to see how the woman interacts as she moves through the community.
Sadly, all the weather scientists are predicting more of the same for the rest of the hurricane season. Hope all can stay safe.
Jaym'row has not the temperament to weigh in on the relative merits of sharing or withholding the formula for gunpowder. She only has this to say, "Many are the stories about such decisions. Some are about some magic spell or whether or not to use some powerful artefact or ally with some reclusive yet powerful tribe or race. I could tell some of them when we have time if it will help. They end in different ways: sometimes for the better, sometimes worse for letting some magic or technology into the world."
Since Jaym'row has been playing the part of facilitator, she says, "Zelli, Kirianara, have you met Gunnar and Luwana?"
Jaym'row introduces Zelli and Kirianara to each of her friends and lets Obotek or Syper tell the story.
GM:
"Ah! Hello. I'm Jaym'row. I was just in the Rusty Hammer with my traveling companions. We came a long way to inquire after services available here. Skøtnir told us Zelli would be the one to ask, so we waited for her. When she came in and Skøtnir directed to speak with us, she looked like she had seen a ghost and ran out. I wanted to see if I could learn why she reacted as she did and maybe convince her we are honorable people on an important mission and we meant her no harm or inconvenience." Roll: I expect this could be the basis of a diplomacy skill check to make a good impression.
Jaym'row wants to be useful, so when the goblin Zelli runs out, Jaym'row says, "Excuse me while I see if I can convince her to return." She tries to follow Zelli, not in an aggressive "I'm chasing you down" kind of way, but keeping her in sight. Perception Check:
If she can keep her in sight, Jaym'row tries to sense what motivates her flight. Rolls: Whichever is more applicable.
Jaym'row has heard much that she doesn't understand. She is only beginning to get an inkling about what is involved with magic and different planes of existence and the subtlety of spirit versus the soul. She pays attention but afterward focuses on the next task, traveling to get this lens thingy. She thoroughly enjoys traveling, so she looks forward to the next few days, trying not to think about that haunted abbey that seems to be in her future.
Jaym'row grimaces as she realizes she had forgotten about the mission to get the lens. Never one to think strategically, she was distracted by thoughts of dealing with the undead in the abbey. She adjusts expectations and enjoys the walk.
As the group travels toward the haunted abbey, Jaym'row asks, "So what do we know about what we are up against?"
”Congratulations on a mission well done. The bard should be joining us shortly.” He leans in and gives a conspiratorial wink. ”The abbot is gifting you a bottle of our best wine. I know because I fetched it for him and watched him put it in that satchel he’s carrying.” "We appreciate the gift, although with all the hospitality you have shown, we should be gifting you coin or service. I'll put something in your collection box, if you have one." He turns to Jaym’row. ”So what think ye of our humble home? It may be plain, but I for one would never live anywhere else.” "I lived for years out of a wagon as my people traveled our home region in caravans. So having rooms with roofs and windows and sturdy walls is certainly a step up. And as a traveling entertainer, I've slept in some real flea bags, and fleas are the worst! Lately, we've been roughing it in the wilderness a lot. So this is nice, yes!"
"Brother Wurl?" Jaym'row calls out, loud enough to get his attention and potentially wake any light sleepers. For good measure, she gently bumps several sleepers with her feet. "I know you are weary from your day's travels, but may we have but a moment of your time to place in your hand an important letter? We are travelers from Fiskurvellir."
Jaym'row is all right with sleeping on bedrolls in the atrium.
Jaym'row peruses the shelves, hoping to find a book of folktales or stories.
Jaym'row lays a sympathetic hand on the abbot's shoulder and sighs, reflecting and allowing him a moment with his thoughts and feelings. "Such a sad tale. It must have been very hard to recall all that. We're sorry to have laid that burden on you. I am a collector and teller of such tales to entertain and educate others as to the perils of dealing with the dark entities of the shadows. There are so many tales of people trying to bring a loved one back and instead provoking even more suffering. It is a hard lesson to learn, I fear."
Sorry, I didn't get a chance to post last night and am teaching today. Will get something up soon but it won't be very much. I'll have more time on Friday.
I'll post some attempts at learning more by Jaym'row. But first, to save me a lot of scanning back over old posts, can someone direct me to the post or posts that contain the key information we are trying to get from this visit and why? I'm out of time at the moment, but could post later this evening. I know there is a letter to deliver and questions about an abbot of another monastery we need to clear of an undead, but what is the larger purpose of that? I'm afraid my memory of such things is not good while also following a number of other game threads.
Jaym'row continues to enjoy the activities of this day, having a nice meal and now a chat near a vineyard. She wondered why people would choose to live in a monetary. If her understanding was correct, such people gave up a good many of the pleasures of life for ... She wasn't sure what the goal was. She did not ask Brother Darnö, since it did not see the time or place, but her curiosity was stimulated and that usually meant she would have to try to find the answers.
This is my favorite campaign at the moment. Lots of regular posting, an interesting world and plot, good chemistry between the PCs and players, a good balance between world building information and action/adventure. The railroad plot device is fine so long as it doesn't force PCs to consistently make choices they would not willingly make for the sake of taking things in the direction the GM wants things to go. And that is not happening here. I am teaching two classes on Tuesday and Thursday mornings and evenings (again), so for now no change in my ability to post. I have a week of no classes in the first week of July, but so far, no plans for trips. Mostly likely if we do anything special, it'll be a couple days to do some traveling, hiking, bicycling, or camping, weather permitting. I'm going to retire from teaching before the end of the year, so that will leave even more time for roleplaying and other things. I have gotten involved in a number of games lately, mostly because my regular games (excluding this one) were advancing very slowly. I may be a bit overextended now that some of them are picking up, so from time to time that my force me to choose which games to post to while I have time and which to postpone to the next day.
Jaym'row travels in fine spirits, enjoying everything about the countryside and the people inhabiting it. At times, she is silent while she retells Irilia's story in her head to memorize the important details. At other time, she uses her musical accompaniment spell to provide pleasant marching music. At night, she spends some time enjoying the light show put on by the sky, thinking of tales of Pulura she has heard. At the inn, her ears perk at the mention of codfish. She politely looks forward to the meal and thinks about playing some music if no one minds later. To the innkeepers' curiosity about the nonhumans in the group, she says, "Golarion is home to many different types of people. Most of them don't get to travel to these parts due to the dangers. I can tell you tales of some of them if you like later."
Jaym'row smiles back and says, "Indeed. I haven't needed to use my rapier lately. But I did make some good shots with my bow. Perhaps we can compare archery techniques before I have to travel on to our next adventure." She also shows Inga how she casts a figment to create a distraction. "I can also make magical music to set the mood when we spar," Jaym'row adds, proud of her new spellcasting tricks. She demonstrates and then pulls out her own violin and plays a melody that fits with the sounds of a guitar and flute. As she speeds up her melody and shifts to a minor key, the accompaniment changes to match. Then she dances a bit to the background music before the effect runs out of magical mojo (about a minute).
The last few days have been extra busy, so I've not had time to post much. Since nothing was waiting on Jaym'row's input, I've been silent to allow time for other more urgent posts and RL chores.
Once her music and charm puts the strange elemental at ease, she then spins out what the group needs. She gives a glance to Syper and Kork to encourage them to help if he seems reluctant to help.
If he won't do it out of kindness, perhaps he can name a reward that would make him willing to help.
We have three PCs with diplomacy of +7 or +8. Why don't we spend some time getting to know the mephit and work out a way to make it worth his while to help us out.
Jaym'row arches her eyebrow whiskers at Jade's warning, after which she distances herself from the weird smell. She takes out her fiddle and noodles around while Jade is resting. As the consensus develops that we could use Zook'itt's help, Jaym'row begins to dance and play for the mephit. Then she strikes up a conversation. "So Zook'itt, we helped rid your spring of that nasty one-eyed monster, how about you help us?" She tells him a brief story of how the group came to need certain chemicals from the tunnel. She points out how it could be dangerous for human-types to survive in the tunnels while a creature with his wondrous abilities would be safe.
"Hey! Something smells funky over here!"
"Bazz Fazz!" Jaym'row mutters as he shot misses.
GM: Hidden Stealth to hide check:
Jaym'row keeps her illusion active, stays behind it for a moment, hoping the monster will lose sight of her, and then sends another arrow at it.
Jaym'row sustains her figment, fires an arrow at One Eye, and then moves slightly to put the illusion between her and the enemy.
Jaym'row remembers a moment from when she was a kit playing with a toy bow and arrow and her mother warned her to be careful as a misfired arrow could put someone's eye out. She is thankful she can do just that in this situation.
Jaym'row creates an illusion of something like the naiad encountered earlier, surrounded by swirling mist. She places the figment between herself and the advancing creature, hoping to hide behind it.
Jaym'row edges to the northeast part of the pool and studies the rocks she would have to cross to get a closer look at the various steaming waterfalls.
I think Jaym'row would vote to secure the chemicals if that can be done quickly, so the crone can work on her magic crafting while we do the other tasks. She'd be anxious to deal with the haunted abbot ahead of playing mail carrier, worried that the vision might spark other bad dreams. Player doesn't have a strong preference. I'm going to be out of town from Friday to Sunday with little time for posting, so 'bot Jaym'row if necessary.
Jaym'row chats with the buyers to learn some things about them and watches with interest as they ask about the knife. Regarding all the speculation of the evil mojo floating about, she has no knowledge and chooses to put out of her mind what she cannot fathom and focus on what she could do for the goals laid out by the crone. She considers things she might purchase to better prepare for the next mission.
No use for the crossbow.
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