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Her sword seems to move on its own as it connects with a crab, and two friends manage to end the remaining crustaceans before she can think to react again. "Ah... Good work, team."
Adelaide opens her mouth to point out the symbol's significance, but shuts it as Garedon manages to elaborate quite well, choosing instead to nod at an appropriate time.
Adelaide scowls at the clattering and shrieking emanating from the corridor. "Shhh! This place is sacred- don't be disturbing things for no reason!" The sounds of battle are familiar, however, and she runs in, falcata flashing. "What in the name of the Dawnflower is that?!" She rushes forward, anticipating territorial attacks from the ones farther in the chamber.
Adelaide unsheathes her falcata worriedly in the sudden darkness, and turns to the sound of trouble. "What's afoot? Is everyone alright?" She shuffles backward to let Garedon move away from... Whatever it is. When Vyk moves up the stairs, she follows closely behind him. When Tuich's lit lantern drives away the darkness, she frowns in disgust. "What an atrocious creature!"
"Pickled imp fetus? But you're a--"
Oh, right, a joke. Lighten up! She smiles, and shakes her head at the memory of their hungry feathered friend. Sobering slightly, she continues. "Like I said, we'll be more than capable of executing the task at hand, and I, for one, will be honored to remove the sinister presence. But burial grounds are treasured by many, and venerated by Pharasmans above all. It's dismal to imagine that it was allowed to fall to monsters.... but that is neither here nor there, I suppose." The half-elf sighs, and turns to Karse. "How long have these missing remains been... missing? When was it first noticed that they were gone?"
So I've got a bit of a dilemma. I really, really enjoy play-by-posts, but I just haven't been diggin' playing as Lady Adelaide. I'm not sure why that is. I have a couple of theories: * not liking Pathfinder Society. I like the idea of being a Pathfinder, but the games seem designed for the players to blitz through and never actually explore the world or get to know NPCs. I know the rationale for this (they want the experience to be as similar for other groups as possible), but on the other hand, it feels like such a shallow experience comparatively. There's not really any time for just straight role-playing with other PCs, either, because the missions are so short and straight forward. * Adelaide isn't useful in this particular group. She's not the most charismatic, she's not the strongest, she's not the smartest, she's not the most perceptive, she can't cast spells. She doesn't really have a niche other than "being Lawful Good," but there's not really a way to do that in PFS (given the above as well as the fact that you can't decide to not take a mission on moral grounds). I feel like the only way she can stand out is by being the kind of paladin everyone hates, and I don't want to do that. * I haven't had enough interactions between Adelaide and others to really get how to play her. She was my first PFS character, so I didn't come up with a "schtik" for her other than being sweet and warm and kind and getting mad when people abuse their power. I feel like there's no way to actually figure out how she should act or react. I don't want to sound like a whiny-butt. I want to figure out what I should do, because I didn't bring anything noteable to the table in this game or the last game, and I feel like if I can't get it together, I should drop and let someone else play. So... if you have ideas, I would appreciate it. I know I can completely remake the character before hitting 2nd level. I don't want to completely scrap her, but if it's what I should do, let me know.
Adelaide considers the grooves at a distance, framing the scene with her hands. "Big picture.... Keen eyes that can't see.... Perhaps we should make a map of our excursions down here? There might be something only viewable from a bird's eye view, as it were."
She sighs and follows Vincent, drawing her falcata. "Our hotheaded companion does have a point. There may be something waiting for us beyond the doors, and we have to return here anyway...."
Adelaide plants her card carefully, and appears visibly unnerved by the presence of the duplicates. "This is too eerie for words," she mutters, prodding the bored-looking illusory paladin gingerly. The woman shudders and moves toward the new staircase. "Let's get going," she suggests, carefully avoiding the gaze of the duplicate group.
Adelaide's moping is defeated with a giggle at Vyk's good-natured ways. At least someone's enjoying themselves; it would be a shame not to. "Dancing with devils? Why, that's my specialty," she boasts, and accepts his hand. The woman nods along with the music and his words. "Your idea's a good one- I think Miko could be the most convincing; her outfit and charm could convince anyone that she belongs here. Do you think it could be that simple? Sir Blackwood seemed to have trouble getting information from the servant he flagged down."
"It's worth a shot, anyway. And I might be able to make a guess if she can't get the information we need." With the end of the song, she returns his bow and rejoins the group as he moves toward the bar. "Miko, our good friend Mister Tyr had an idea...."
Her face falls as the glass is handed back, her cheery attitude defeated. "Well... Well that's okay," Adelaide murmurs. She smiles again, but with much less enthusiasm. The paladin scouts a person carrying a tray of empty and half-empty glasses and adds the two she carries to it as deftly as she can. Returning to the group, she is now all business. "Shall we be off, then? Vyk will be right along, I assume."
Adelaide's armor is newly polished, her tabard crisp and freshly cleaned, and she gives an ingratiating smile to any who meet her eye, but as she expected, there are few interested in conversing with a holy warrior at such an extravagant gala. She amuses herself with the way the crowd draws away from her without thought- no one wants to share sordid stories with priests or paladins, she thinks with a grin. "Hello, Tuichy!" Adelaide smiles at the Varisian woman as she approaches. "You look fantastic. Did you find new scarves, or have I just not seen their color in the right lighting yet?" She hands the woman an impossibly delicate flute of rose-colored liquid. "I was afraid I'd break this on the way over. They certainly do know how to celebrate in Taldor, do they not?" The paladin sips from her own glass. "Lovely to see you, Miko. Vincent," she nods to the man. "You're dressed to the nines, I see. Aren't you afraid your revelry will wrinkle that lovely shirt?" Her tone is cheery, breezy. The amusement she garnered earlier is still creating a smile on her face; it feels like a private joke that only another servant to the gods might understand. I should've come in my vestiments, carrying a holy book. That would have made for a sight!
She gives Garedon's shoulder a good-natured squeeze. "If you'd wanted a headache, we could've just given you a few of these in advance." She indicates the glass in her hand. "We'll be in quieter places soon, I'm sure."
Adelaide casually tries to keep up with Tuich when the woman decides to leave. She keeps her expression neutral and attempts to seem totally at ease. "So... What will you be doing to keep busy until tomorrow night? Are there still things you're interested in procuring? We could, ah, go searching for them together..."
Adelaide regards the woman with confusion. "Have I given you reason to doubt my convictions to the cause, Sister? I'm merely reiterating the direction we've been given by our illustrious Venture-Captain- we must avoid as many 'slip-ups' as possible." She shrugs, taking on a falsely serious tone, but with a mirthful grin now playing on her lips. "Of course, if your ideas of stealth and nondetection involve leaving unconscious citizens laying around...." "Thank you for your vote of confidence, Sir Blackwood!" she begins, turning toward the man with a smile. Perhaps I misjudged him- Her thoughts are interrupted by his proposition. The half-elf rolls her eyes in feigned disdain, but can't help but laugh at his waggling eyebrows. "As much as I'm honored by your suggestion, Sir, I'm afraid you're just not the type I'm prone to 'revel' with."
Lady Adelaide has kept quite silent during most of the discussion, occasionally gazing out the window. She contemplates the nearby dock, mulling over the vague feeling of unease that roils her belly. While she knew that travel and intrigue would be required of any Pathfinder, she can't say that she anticipated feeling so homesick- and on top of that, her compatriots are coming up with plans ever more deceptive and dishonorable! But.... surely such discomfort must be overlooked, for the sake of correcting a larger fraud. How could political ambition be so cruel as to permit rewriting history? Didn't they know that their people had a right to the truth? She catches Tuich's wink and grins. While the mission may be outside her comfort zone, she did have a duty to the organization... and a duty to seeing the Varisian woman and the tiefling man back safely. The feeling of unease begins to drain away as she turns away from the window entirely.
Magnificence. Truly. I'm not convinced that we shouldn't let you deliver the report. :p Kyshkumen. If I wait for the spoils of this mission, can I spend them all at once, or is that weird?
"Did you see that?!" the half-elf cries as she gestures to the city, which promptly stops glowing. "I do not know- is that it? Is the ritual done?" Feeling slightly deranged, she holds out the other half of the caterpillar to Garedon. "Hey, I just met you, and this is crazy- but try doing what I just did... The ritual might have to be done once for each of us... Maybe."
....and then says, in her most confident voice, "Fear not, friendly amphibians! We shall vanquish these most hated of foes, and make the cavern floor safe for all your hopping!" She then gingerly takes one half of the squirming insect and places it in the pool before the frogs, dragging it down the tiny aisles that serve as streets.
Adelaide considers the frogs again, something seeming off about their behavior. "Hmm.... Now, I'm certainly no nature expert, but why would frogs want to climb up so high, anyway? Does that seem a little odd to-" Glancing down to the ground, Adelaide is struck by inspiration. "These centipedes are huge! Do you suppose they eat the frogs? Maybe they don't want to be in the city, but the centipedes have them trapped!" Feeling slightly silly, she experimentally cuts a centipede in two.
With a sigh of defeat, Adelaide returns to the group. "Looks like the only things in here are us, some centipedes, and...." She leans closer to the model, scrutinizing the frogs intently. "Why are you here, in this tiny city, little froggies? Is there something you're hiding from us?"
She stands back up, wracking her brains for any connection between golden cities and frogs. "You don't suppose.... you don't suppose we have to kiss one, do you?" Making a face of disdain, she touches a finger to her nose. "Because that's not going to be happening, contract or no."
Adelaide tries to jump nimbly across the river, but slips on the wet stone and soaks herself with a splash of the murky water. She slogs through the rest of the small stream and shivers on the opposite bank. "Stand and f-f-fight, creature!" The effect of her normally ringing voice is lessened by the stutters as she trembles in her now-wet clothing.
Still feeling reluctant, Adelaide moves , falcata at the ready, and prepares to jump across if the lizard-men press on with their attack. This feels wrong- they only want to defend their home. I have my orders, but I certainly don't like them... She keeps her inward musings to herself, remembering the lecture she'd gotten last time she hadn't felt comfortable cutting things down.
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