Besmaran Priest

Lahasha's page

Goblin Squad Member. Organized Play Member. 25 posts (29 including aliases). No reviews. No lists. No wishlists. 1 Organized Play character.


Goblin Squad Member

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Despite the smells that generally come along with the beasts that are housed there, the sight of Serianna’s livery stable is welcome to the small group of tired travellers as they emerge from the Echo Wood. From the southern leg of Dagger Road they enter the boundaries of the town nestled in the trees surrounding Thornkeep - an odd group of sellswords and huntsman with a trader or two in the mix, all ready to end a profitable journey from the southern tip of the forest. They talk lightly and joke as they move up the road at a leisurely pace, enjoying the welcome warm air of a late spring evening.

“I swear to you, they were biggest you’d ever seen!” A young, scruffy man in a leather hunting vest remarks while holding a pair of melon-sized puffballs suggestively against his chest. “And when she brought me to her room she showed me a sacred Kellid dance of fertility..”

His travelling companions laugh as he bounces and sways in an absurd attempt to mimic an exotic dancer until one of the spherical fungi slips from his hand and bounces away in the dirt on the road.

“Sure there, and next you’ll say Lady Ivis is waiting up in your room in the Greenforest Inn.” Replies another man with dark chainmail and a greasy mustache over a crooked grin.

“I would never!” The first replies in mock indignation, “Be stupid enough to say it where one of the Baron’s goons could hear and drag me up for Lord Blackshield to cut out my tongue.” He adds as he retrieves his meal before it is trampled on by a passing rider.

“Besides, I have something much more appetizing than traditional, old Druscor fare waiting for me where I’m going. You should join me, there’s more than enough to go around.”

The other man gives an indistinct grunt in reply, but does follow the first along with at least one more when the group starts to break off in their own separate directions.

“Hey Asha, what about you?” The scruffy man calls after another, wearing a decent robe of spun yarn decorated with a variety of spidery runes who had begun walking a different way.

The man shifts a heavy pack as he stops, the beads in his long braided hair clicking softly as he turns back to wave them off. “Nah, not tonight, I need to get home before I go anywhere else.”

“Bah, you’re no fun!” Is the only response that can be understood as the small group makes their way through the remnants of the market crowd. Asha laughs to himself, holding out hope he will find some time to prove them wrong later.

He carries on to an area with mostly wooden houses, nearer the Brambleclaw goblins than anyone with a bit of coin to their name would generally like to live. The buildings are small and the residents tend to make light hearted jests about living in the most rundown part of this ramshackle fiefdom, but it is still familiar and will always be home. The welcome smell of dinner coming from many directions gives a bit more energy to the young woodsman’s step, and he soon finds himself reaching his family’s homestead.

When it finally comes into view however he is greeted with the unnerving sight of the wooden door hanging from the hinges while three plainly dressed yet very unpleasant looking men are stepping out of the open portal. He stops in the path with his breath nearly caught in his throat while in his mind he begins reciting the invocations that will turn his gemmed walking stick into a deadly weapon.

“What is this?” He manages in a voice that he can only hope is strong enough to command an answer.

The three men keep walking, hands close to daggers on their belts.

“Asha..” A voice from inside the house. A quick glance and Asha can see his mother. If she has been harmed he has not time to tell.

“What’s going on?” Asha demands as he fights against a growing anger, sure somewhere hidden safely under his robes a mysterious arcane mark is now glowing with power. The men are nearly upon him now.

Three men. Three daggers.

“Asha listen to me. Come here.” His mother’s voice is strong, but pleading. Yet without fear.

“Listen to your mother, boy.” The nearest thug says with barely a glance at the smaller man before him, his stride not broken as he advances.

“Collections were a couple days ago, damnit!” Fortunately for Asha, while he does not always know when to keep his mouth shut, he is smart enough to get out of the way of a charging horse.

And with a nimble step he also proves fast enough - narrowly avoiding a savage kick that surely would have left him reeling and vulnerable. He keeps his distance from the menacing trio afterwards and they leave satisfied with having made their point, and their quota. The one carrying the depressingly heavy pouch of coins is careful to let it bounce and jingle loudly as he walks away.

When they are gone Asha turns quickly and is greatly relieved to find that while most of his family are in the homestead, none of them had been harmed in the encounter.

“I think they broke the door because your father threatened to shoot one of them last time they came.” Asha’s mother explains in an almost humorously calm fashion while a group effort ensues to fix the hinges.

“Oh, yup, that’ll do it.” Asha answers back in an equally deadpan manner. “Where is he, just out hunting?”

“Won’t be back for another couple days at least, but says he’ll be bringing some nice meade from Fort Riverwatch.” One of Asha’s younger brothers offers in response. “And he told me to tell you to stop lipping off to those Empyreans, last thing we need is more trouble.”

“What do you mean?” Asha’s mother asks, apparently interested in that new message. Asha does his best to ignore it completely.

“Oh, I got to try some of that Emerald Spirit down in the Emerald Lodge. It really is as good as..” But before he can finish, four loud raps sound at the door - almost forceful enough to knock it right off its new hinges, followed by a loud voice from the other side.

“Collection day.” It booms.

“What the glorious hell!?” Asha exclaims and whips around, his wand already in his hand. Being the closest he is the first to the door and when he throws it open the hulking figure of a pair of hobgoblins looms oppressively over him. The odour of their breath and bodies overpowers the scents of his home and wash over everyone within while the hearth makes their eyes appear to glow with an evil light.

“Collection day, little man. You got a problem?” The one in front sneers contemptuously.

“They just came.” Asha answers defiantly, wand held visible but not quite in a threatening fashion.

“Weren’t us.” Snorts the hobgoblin in the rear. “Ironjaws don’t care ‘bout yer other debts. You sure that’s a man? Looks kinda scrawny.”

“‘be a pixie fer all I care. Collection day. Pay up if yer wanna keep our protection.”

For a brief time things were quiet. The seething rage inside the young man bound to this world for whatever purpose Pharasma has decided must have been plainly visible on his face. The hobgoblins drank it in like fine wine. Such a creature of violence and passion has never been so patient as what they were in this moment.

’I could destroy them…’ Thought the young wizard. ’With my thoughts and will alone I could shatter their fragile minds and sunder the souls from their bodies.’

The Mark of Pharasma burned with a blissful agony under his robes. ‘Even if I lost, I could return a hundred times. A thousand times until I have obliterated every piece of them that ever was and ever will be.’

The hobgoblins stared unblinking, rank with anticipation. One of them fondly slides a finger down the razored edge of ax larger than Asha’s head. A noise from behind..

Asha’s youngest sister coughs, and something falls to the floor, and the young man’s head turns back to the others.. The others who do not bear the mark.. Who would not come back.

‘I can’t protect them all forever…’

Asha lowers his wand, a light that was growing at its tip dims and winks out.

“What the matter, manling?” The second hobgoblin taunts, “Thought you had somethin’ to say?”

“We haven’t got any money today.” Asha’s mother interjects, a hint of nervousness finally breaking through in her voice after a very long, tense afternoon. “Please, come back tom-..”

“Not good enough.” The first hobgoblin cuts her off, hand beginning to move to remove his awful weapon from his belt loop. “Gonna have to show you what happens to people who don’t keep up.”

“Wait.” Asha says, not moving from his spot in the way of the door. Another very brief, uncomfortable moment passes, and then he tosses a small bag at the lead hobgoblin. There is a clink of coin as it bounces off his chest, but the brute does not appear impressed at the size.

“It’s silver.” Asha says, reading the thoughts that are written obviously across the creature’s face. “Just take it and go if you want to be able to enjoy more later.”

It seemed an eternity that they rolled the wizard’s words over in their minds, trying hard to decide whether there was enough of an insult or threat behind them to justify retaliation. Perhaps, just maybe wondering if there was something more to this tiny man with a big mouth, standing before them not quite showing enough fear..

“Five days.” He says and spits at the young man’s feet after he picks up the pouch. With his hand still on his axe the hobgoblin turns and leaves, barking out an order at his companion to follow him.

Nobody in the house says a word for a good while after they are gone, all almost afraid to breathe for fear it may bring them back. It’s Asha’s sister again that finally breaks the silence.

“Where’d you get all that silver?”

“Yeah, where’d that come from?” Another younger brother eagerly asks afterwards, “Have you been raiding the Empyreans? I heard you’ve been raiding the Empyreans!”

“What? Who said that?! I have not been raiding the Empyreans!” Asha responds in a exasperated fashion.

His brother gave him a disappointed look, to which he continues with a mischievous grin. “I’ve been poaching from the Empyreans’ sovereign territory.”

“Their what?” One of Asha’s older brother’s asked with a laugh.

“Oh, their sovereign territory is it, now?” Asha’s mother asks incredulously. “Have they asked the Echo Woods what it thinks of that?”

“I’m sure that’ll last just as long as the last ones who said it.” Jokes another of Asha’s siblings as they all set about to preparing a well earned meal. “I give it less than half the time Mosswater lasted.”

“Here now! You shouldn’t joke of the dead like that..” Scolds Asha’s mother in a well meaning way, and plenty of laughter can be heard from the homestead until all are ready to turn in for the night.

Goblin Squad Member

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Taken from a quote from Ryan on another thread yesterday - I found this rather inspiring:

Ryan Dancey wrote:
When we go to China, the undead will have to be replaced. But it is pretty easy to imagine doing that because when we are ready to go to China we will have a huge library of monsters so not using the skeleton model will be harmless.

I like how he uses 'when' instead of 'if'. We're looking at an incomplete game right now, but they're in it for the long haul. I don't blame anyone if they say it doesn't look complete enough to pay for yet - for a lot of us, I don't think that's why we're here.

Goblin Squad Member

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@Cheatle @Erian El'ranelen

Thanks for your responses, and for noting that my "problem" (I use that term very loosely) is IC. As I mentioned before I have no issue with the potential effects of association with any particular group. On the contrary, for the first time ever I believe this has given me a real reason to act in-character in a game as I truly was not aware of the extent of AGC's actions.

I think more than anything else I was hoping for a bit more depth to the response beyond - you wear their colours so you must die - but as before I am more interested in the response on an In-Game level.

That you have now unequivocally stated "Right now, anyone partying with AGC is going to be a target." clears up the question of whether your members were acting lawfully as far as they(or I) are concerned.

There's a lovely debate to be had about whether or not they are being good, which is the crux of Asha's complaint - but that's obviously best left for another thread, or when the game has developed enough that he can lodge a formal complaint with your ruling elite.

Just in case it needs to be said, Cheatle - I promise all snarky comments about your leadership abilities are entirely in-game and IC.

KotC - Erian El'ranelen wrote:


IC: My friends in the Allegiant Gemstone Company, it pains me to find that, upon my return from dealing with personal matters, there are numerous reports of your members violating the primary tenet of the Keepers of the Circle with regard to aggression. Surely the times I have welcomed you to this community, congratulated you on successes, and most of all supported the free-thinking folk of Aragon even at times when my own allies do not has some meaning? I sincerely hope that these incidents were simply a misunderstanding. I fully expect you to deal with your company matters regarding other Companies and settlements as you see fit of course, but I must at the same time ask that you respect the non-aggression stance of the Keepers of the Circle.

We are prepared to forgive all past actions, in return for assurance that members of your company will cease aggression in all territory claimed by the Keepers. Failing this, our organizations would need to come to an understanding of our relationship and whether you will waive our stance on non-aggression as it applies to your Company. I would of course raise this as a concern to Aragon as well, given that Keeper's Pass seeks to maintain friendly relations with that settlement as well, but I further understand that the government of Aragon runs differently than ours with regard to member Companies.

I look forward to your response, as well as continued good relations between our two groups.

Squaring the Circle,
Erian El'ranelen
Guardian of Gold

IC: "I'm just a lackey - no one tells me nuthin'." Asha says before finishing his mead in one great swig and then passes out, drooling on the table.

Grand Lodge Goblin Squad Member

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I don't think there's any need to change the immortality of the paid characters, but has anyone ever suggested maybe allowing mortals as free accounts?

Maybe limit their access to some of the most powerful magic and abilities, but allow them to exist as a sort of hard-core character setting wherein anyone who is interested in the challenge can see how long they can last.

It might be a good way to give people a chance to see if they like the game before making any serious commitments, and could act to drive meaningful activities as the immortals try to protect their vulnerable friends.

Grand Lodge Goblin Squad Member

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Ravenlute wrote:
Asha Vesharrah wrote:
Slightly expanding Cheatle's point of Golarion's abundance of magic - what about adding in items that characters could craft that would allow long distance communication? An attractive draw for a company would be the ability to give these out to members to allow them to stay in contact with everyone else.

That shouldn't be needed. Even with no Global chat it would kill the game if they did not put in at least Company chat. If players feel like there aren't many folks playing, they have less fun and stop playing. This dwindles the player base down. Communication is a huge part of what makes an MMO.

GW isn't ignoring Company and Settlement chat. It was even added in the mock up of the crafting screen done months ago.

That makes good sense. Personally I loved it the first time I logged on and found myself out in the wilderness, completely alone and realizing the danger I was in surrounded by ogres and mad priests. But the thrill brought on by the heightened immersion was rather quickly replaced with loneliness and an unfortunate feeling of tedium involved in running for long distances with little goal but a destination and hopes I might run into another actual person.

Maybe a Pathfinder Society specific device for new players and those not associated with a company or settlement to provide an in-game ability and reason for country-wide communication would be a good addition without breaking immersion?