Glad the fight is over, Ruby scouts ahead.
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Ruby circled overhead, watching carefully and hoping not to be needed.
No problem. Follow me! she says taking to the sky and leading them in a long, careful path that looped them around in the direction they wanted to approach from.
She was practically invisible in the sparse trees surrounding the keep, but her constant telepathic warnings and guidance about where to hide, where the best hiding places were and when to stop when the dog-things seemed like they might be more alert all kept them right where she wanted them.
So about this map of this place that we're going... Ruby continues, slightly annoyed at the interruption.
Ruby returns a while later and gives a description of the fort. It was all broken up on one side. Both levels, like a giant had been throwing rocks at it. It didn't look very hospitable. With the stinger on the end of her tail she draws a rough map in the dirt of everything she can remember.
Ruby puts her tiny reptilian face into her tiny reptilian palm and laughs a tiny reptilian laugh. Freddy, it's nice that you speak the true tongue and all, but I'm a telepath. It doesn't matter what language you speak. It doesn't even matter that you speak. You think it, I'll hear you. It's actually faster once you get used to the idea of not even bothering with language. Pure intention works better than any words ever invented. Rolling her eyes at the newcomer, she leaps into the air to head toward the fort.
Ruby returns, Looks clear the way we came, out by that big tree. Can we leave now?
Her skills are listed in her profile, in case you're curious.
Ruby doesn't have any knowledges. All she can do is count them and report back.
Without a word, Ruby takes off to scan for more undead and to scout out potential escape routes.
This is what happens when you don't listen to the dragon... Ruby says, landing on Vuvu's shoulder.
Feel free to use me as a sort of "barometer" regarding what the party can handle. Having a telepathic ariel scout means that we should almost never be getting into a situation we weren't aware of before hand. There isn't much we won't see coming unless they are camouflaged and waiting to ambush us. Unfortunately, there's no built in game mechanic for "how tough is this?" (there really should be, IMO), so we'll need more clear-cut signs that we're heading into areas that are beyond our abilities.
They're all insane. Ruby thinks to herself as she takes to the sky again.
I think leaving would be good.
Not good, not good, not good. Should I try to help? What can I do? Oh! Yeah! Ruby swoops down, dodging undead claws, and cracks open a small clay bead in her hands, rubbing the oil on one of the wounded adventurers.
Then she looks up and realizes she's in the thick of things. Uh oh.
Ruby had never liked the undead. They unnerved her. She stayed in the trees well out of the fight, hoping none of them would die.
Don't worry about Identifying things. I can help you with that about once a day when we stop for camp.
Its an abandoned village. Not large. A few main roads. Gargoyles every hundred feet or so.
Ruby flies down to give her report. There's an empty town over there. Noting in it but gargoyle statues.
Ruby had been quiet, assessing the group as they went. When Vuvu has requested that she comfort the child she had made a small snort and a surprisingly human eye roll that spoke volumes about what she thought of the suggestion. Obviously such things were beneath her. She disappeared for a short time, reappearing with a small bird in her talons, settling down for lunch as the group conducted it's business with the drugs. Once on the road again, she continued to wing out lazily, scouting. Seeing the abandoned town, she flew down to get a closer look before returning to relay her information.
Ruby looks on, concerned.
That could have gone better.
Barbs really shine at 1st and 2nd level. Bug is doing his job well.
But can gain the attack bonus from a target that is flanked by two allies.
Ruby makes another look, looking for the best place for the elf to fire from. Ruby's mental voice echoes in the minds of the group. Concentrate your attacks on the gnoll. One target at a time. Swooping down to distract the dog-man, she hoped it would keep Bug Eater from taking another blow.
I teach too. Stage combat. :)
Another tactical advantage I can provide for you guys is to telepathically relay information during a fight. This will allow you to coordinate quickly and secretly. That being said, Ruby isn't a tactical genius, but she kind of think she is (she is rather conceited). She may not relay things exactly if she thinks there is a better way to say them. What I'd like for the group to do is to put anything you'd like Ruby to relay into a spoiler, then I'll have her broadcast the information in her own words. Sound good?
Ruby was momentarily confused by Hemming's request, then caught on, looking around for anything sneaking up on them or trying to get away. She knew that her telepathy took some getting used to, so she didn't respond with anything more than a simple feeling of affirmation toward Hemmings to let him know that she had understood him.
Ruby loops in the sky, keeping a loose eye on the group. Seeing the beginnings of an ambush, she wings down to take a closer look.
As the group made their way outside, Ruby followed and was not perched on the roof.
Ruby was perched in the rafters again, winging down to land on the table as the group began their breakfast. The innkeeper brought her a saucer of fresh milk and minced meat, which she ate daintily.
Ruby gladly accepts the offered snack, glad that someone among the crowd understands their rightful place as a servant to her obvious majesty. She ducks away from the hand as it reaches for her, then pauses and stretches her neck back again, the prospect of pleasure outweighing her pride for the moment. "Hello Locke. You can stay."
Many of the prospective employees talked over each other, each asked the question at the same time, many confused by the little dragon's telepathic conversation. Her eyes flicked about, looking at each one, listening, thinking. She paused a moment, as if listening to something the rest could not hear, then nodded. A surprisingly human gesture. In thier minds, some in the crowd heard "Thank you for your time. Your services will not be required." A small number of others heard "Please make your way up the stairs with me." She launched herself into the air and gracefully flew through the room to land on the upstairs bannister. "Please have a seat." she said as they followed her up the stairs.
Sorry for the delay. The last two days have been busier than I'd anticipated.
The clock behind the bar tolled. The tiny dragon who had been scrutinizing everyone flared it's wings for a moment drawing attention to itself. Each person around the table heard an aristocratic feminine voice echo directly into their minds. "Thank you all for responding. I shall get straight to business. Your prospective employer appreciates promptness and organization, and will meet with you once I have made my selections." "This job is both a manhunt and a search for the relics the missing person had been seeking. It will involve travel into the wilderness as well as the possible delving into potentally dangerous ruins." "Pay will be one hundred gold sovereigns for the successful return of the missing person, or his remains, plus additional payment based on the ruins collected." "Please state your names and skill sets you believe would be relative to this endeavor."
Down from the rafters a bright red dragon the size of a housecat lazily winged down to land on the empty table causing more than one patron to duck in surprise or spill their drinks. The tiny dragon touched down gracefully, turned, and sat directly on top of the reward poster, sitting high and looking around at those who had begun to gather.
GM Wolf has asked me to NPC the guy who hires you all. That's what the bit about the empty table and the want add is about. It's up to you whether you're here because you saw the poster elsewhere, or if you're seeing it here for the first time, but I think it would help a lot if your characters were willing to hear the work offer here. Take your time with the character intros and roleplaying. Whenever you're ready to get the ball rolling, just gather or sit at the Reserved table.
A larger table off to one side was empty, a simple triangular stand reading "Reserved" in a half-dozen languages sitting in the middle of it. A piece of paper was pinned beneath it, a notice that some in the bar had seen a few places around town already. It was a reward poster asking for brave and skilled adventurers willing to sub-contract to the Pathfinder Society. The meeting was here, soon.
One of the draconic effigies in the room was living, though it was hard to tell. It was not much larger than a housecat and blended in to the scenery with impressive skill. It lounged, curled around a beam, looking down at the patrons occasionally giving long reptilian blink.
Ruby the tiny dragon, reporting in. Working on the other NPC now. |