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As much as it pains me to say it, I'm also gradually stepping down from PbP as my current games wrap up. Things have gotten way too busy for me since I started grad school, and I just don't have to time to make posts anymore. Have fun y'all, I know this will be a great campaign, and I'm sorry I won't get to see Torag in action.
Tupp, still with his hands on his hips, shakes his head in disappointment, "You know, I have half a mind not to come back tomorrow to help clear away the old vines and stuff..." Then as the others depart, the young Paladin slowly follows, but as he passes Pip, he adds, "You should learn to share, you know." *BAWK!* Sori agrees, poking her head out from the back of Tupp's pack as he walks away.
Tupp, in a rare moment of understanding, frowns at the little plant man, "Hey... You wanted us to get into a fight, didn't you?" Hands on hips, the young halfling is about to scold Pip, but hesitates, and looks around at his companions instead, "I'm not paranoid am I? Anyone else get the feeling Pip wanted things to get out of hand when we met Khaya?"
Tupp's eyes go wide at the sights and revelations of this wondrous green house, and that was before Pip offered to let the group take samples. "You're sure?" He asks as he finishes poking at a particularly ripe looking cherry, "These are soo amazing! Just imagine what it would be like to eat a fruit salad made from all these!" Latching onto the Zithembe's and Sylvak's earlier offer, Tupp makes a mental note to come back sometime with some shears.
"Oh, sorry! I didn't mean to jump to any conclusions..." Tupp says apologetically as he rolls up a sleeve and waits for his turn, "It's just that you can never be too careful, you know? Especially in creepy abandoned buildings with purple clouds on the roof. Here, I'm ready to pay." He offers his arm and screws up his face in anticipation of the prick to come. "Can we see these experiments some time? I mean, it would be nice to see what you do here."
Tupp narrows his eyes, not at all comfortable with giving a strange creature his blood, especially after Zithembe's warning. "Umm... What are you going to do with all that blood?" He asks, studying the process warily, ready to intercede if it starts to take too much or Zithembe looks uncomfortable. "I've heard stories of black magic that uses blood... You're not going to do anything like that are you?" He is, however, eager to look around and especially wants to meet the new Master Gardener, and will reluctantly go with the majority on the matter.
Tupp makes a small respectful bow of his own, and nods along to Zithembe, "Yeah, we thought this place was abandoned..." He glances around the crumbling room, then looks back to the strange gnome-like creature with a beard of mold and smiles. "No offence, but it really does look abandoned. Oh, I'm Tupp, by the way, it's a pleasure to meet you mister?" His voice raises in pitch, as if inquiring after the creature's name, then continues in his cheerful, friendly manner. "I really like your beard! I tried growing one myself once, but it just came out all patchy."
Tupp blinks a few times and finally lets out a belated, "Woah..." Having finally processed what just happened, the young paladin gives Zithembe a congratulatory pat on the hip and heads over to Hepsubia, "That was something else! You're a natural ghost whisperer, Hep... You and Zith make a great team, I mean, I bet you two could talk any spirit to a peaceful rest!" Buoyed by this happy turn of events, Tupp turns to J, enthusiastic to hear what she wants to do next, Maybe we can help even more spirits?
"Oh yes, I do want to use it, thank you..." Tupp chirps cheerfully as he taps everyone with the wand, blissfully unaware of any sarcasm, "I always wanted to try my hand at mag-" He goes silent, however, as the scouts report life up ahead. Perhaps it's a survivor? But that means they've been trapped down here all alone for months... He quickly makes his way over to the others, trying to be as quiet as possible, but somehow managing to cause more noise than if he just walked normally. "Where are they? Do they look hurt?" He whispers to Zithembe as Hepsubia melts into the shadows.
"Well, I once heard of a haunted painting... The ghost tried to possess a poor little baby so it could be reborn, and there was a river of some sort of goo that fed on negative emotions..." Tupp says as he watches Sylvak gather the pilfered items, "I mean, it was all sorted out in the end thanks to some lighthearted singing, but it was scary to read about. So yeah, I think items can be haunted." Even as he says that, the young halfling reaches over and takes one of the wands, feeling the power resonate withing. With a quick glance at the fallen thieves, Tupp holds up the wand and asks. "Anyone want a tap... just in case?"
"Oatmeal raisin." Tupp replies seriously, eyes still glued to the point he last saw Hepsubia, "If creatures of the night try to lure you away from the light, they always use oatmeal raisin cookies... I read it in a book once." He screes up his face. "I hate oatmeal raisin. Oh, and they'll probably try to eat you... That's bad too."
The haunt over before he even registered it started, Tupp wipes his brow in relief that the others are so quick thinking. Those poor souls... Not entirely sure he likes the idea of his friend wandering off alone in such a haunted place, the young halfling waits by the classroom door for her return, hand ever present on the hilt of his sword. "Umm... When you say it's calling you..." He asks J, although his gaze is firmly planted down the hall Hepsubia disappeared down, "You don't mean that literally do you? I mean, can you hear something saying 'Hey J, come down here to the dark scary place... We have cookies.' Nothing like that, right?"
Tupp, unusually quiet since stepping foot in the grounds, inspects his surroundings with an expression somewhere between deep concentration and melancholy. However, his thoughts for the long departed, and his attentive watch for malevolent spirits are interrupted as Theodric lights up the room with excitement. "I thought exploring old ruins was the whole point of joining the Society?" He chirps as he makes his way up to the front, "I plan on visiting every last cave and ruin on Kortos before I retire and start my dojo... With hand on the hilt of his sword, Tupp makes one more sweep of his surroundings before turning to J, "Okay, so when we go in, I think it would be best if you stay in the middle of the group. Nothing can happen to you if you're surrounded by experienced Pathfinders."
"My sword is yours J. I promised to help you and protect you, and that isn't going to change because there's more of you than we originally thought." Tupp smiles and turns to Grishan, "It would be an honour to help you with your unfinished business. I mean, if it helps a restless spirit move on, I'm all for it."
"Ghosts can't shake hands and Grishan is forgetful..." Tupp whispers, recounting everything he has learned so far to Kiango, "He seems nice though." He smiles as Hepsubia returns all the gold she hadn't really stolen and as the unconscious men are taken care of by some of the others. "We really should get moving, J. I don't think that-" He says just as Ylva storms off. "Wha... Ylva?"
Tupp slowly resheathes his sword, having drawn it the moment pots and boots started flying. "Woah!" Is all he can manage to articulate as Grishan steps out of J. He had tried to track the ghost's movements during the fight, fearing him to be malevolent and a much greater threat than the men Ylva relieved of their teeth, but just couldn't get a bead on him. Now that the green apparition is just floating there, Tupp can't help but stare for a moment. Eventually he manages to pick his jaw off the ground and steps forward to shake his hand. "And I'm Tupp. It's nice to meet you too... But, umm... Why are you unliving inside J?" He looks up at the young noble woman. "He's not possessing you is he?"
"Wait... What!?" Tupps eyes go as wide as saucers as the situation takes an unexpected (to him) and violent turn, "Even if you think her manners are bad, that's no reason to get yourselves killed by highly trained agents.." He frets, looking around at Hepsubia, Theodric, and all the noblemen drawing swords. He doesn't draw his own weapon yet, apart from not being able to reach anyone, it wouldn't be a fair fight between him and a spoilt nobleman anyway. "Please, just run away, I'm too young to go to prison!"
Anticipating his pleas will fall on deaf ears, Tupp whispers to Junia, "Get behind us, J, we'll make sure you're safe."
While everyone else is doing there shopping, Tupp slips into his usual, slightly tatty clothes and armour. He's still tightening up the last few buckles when he looks up to find J blushing, and Ylva getting very friendly with a man wearing more makeup and jewels than he thinks is strictly necessary... But if Ylva likes all that fancy stuff, who is Tupp to disagree. "Hi guys!" He chirps cheerfully as he approaches the group of laughing men. "I'm sorry sorry about this, but we're on a strict time table... Would you mind if you just exchanged details now and then catch up with each other later? I mean, I heard of a nice place just around the corner that sells the best pancakes if you wanted to go on a date or something sometime next week, but we really should be going now."
"Whoah!" Tupp exclaims, shaking his head clear after another trippy experience with Zithembe, "That was different than last time... Is it always different?" He asks as he gets back to his feet and brushes down his finery, "I'm not sure I agree with what that first woman was doing, but after that... Wow! I mean, I now know what it's like to be a sword, and the trip all over the city as a coin was awesome!" With a wide smile, the young halfling bows and thanks 'The Wise Teacher' for another interesting experience, then looks around as if noticing for the first time that they are alone in a strangers house. "Umm... Does anyone know the way to the Tri-Towers Yard?" He asks, ready to leave as soon as everyone else is.
"I've never actually seen any spirits myself, but I have a cousin who swears that her pig sees them all the time..." Tupps says cheerfully, trying brighten the moods of both J. and Ylva after all the spooky talk, "I'm not sure how she knows though... Well, anyway, her pig is older than any other in the surrounding farmsteads, so spirits can't be all that bad, right?" Knowing his words will likely have little affect on Ylva, he turns to the retreating Ulfen to thank her for the offer of collecting his stuff, "That would save a lot of time! If you don't mind that is."
Tupp looks up at Zithembe, then back at Junia, nodding. "Oh, yes! You should totally join us." He chirps enthusiastically, "It's really weird, but I promise it's perfectly safe and you won't experience anything like it again. Plus, it might even help you while we're out doing... What is it you want to do again?"
When J gets to him, Tupp shakes her offered hand while offering a little bow, "Then J it is, Ms. Dacilane!" He chirps with a smile. "I'm Tupp, Tupp Thistledown and it's very nice to meet you." Stepping back, he looks around at the laughing ulfen, the scowling samsaran, and the others, adding. "You might have guessed that we're quite an easy going team, but know that we will take your protection very seriously. I'm glad to see you do to..." He says, indicating the mithral chain shirt. "I like your outfit, by the way! I don't know what Lady Dacilane has against it. I mean, my great grandfather told me all about Andoran Eagle Knights but I never knew they looked so smart." He remarks, taking note of Hepsubia's observation.
Spoiler:
Tupp's silent for a while, not sure what to say, but finally breaks the silence with a simple statement. "You'll see it too eventually, I promise." He smiles at Ylva ""The strength you hold inside, that is..." Tupp bows respectfully when introduced to Lady Dacilane, and listens carefully to the questions and answers before chiming in with one of his own. "Is there curfew? Like, do you want us to bring your daughter home by midnight or something? How much do you really want her to see out there? I heard some disturbing things about the Precipice Quarter, and it might be really dangerous after dark."
Ylva:
Tupp listens quietly as Ylva bares her soul, thoughtfully sipping his cocoa trying his best to imagine a life without six brothers, seven uncles, and an untold number of other relatives around him all the time. When she finally breaks down again, he puts his arm around her shoulders (as far as he can in any case) and says earnestly. "I'd like to tell you something my father once said to me... Being brave isn't about never being scared, it's about what you do when you are. He told me that the bravest people he knows are scared all the time." He tries to catch her eye, "I don't think you're a coward, Ylva! Even after suffering terrible wounds during our confirmation, you got up again and again, always the first one to take on the next threat. That takes a kind of courage and toughness I can only dream of!" He smiles and adds. "I think the Society needs more people like you, not less." "She's alive though!" Tupp hastens to add, "I mean, she's not some kind of mummy lurching out of her tomb to eat babies, or whatever it is they do. She's just... well preserved for her age." He screws up his face as even he realises he messed up that explanation. "Again, that's not because she's is, or ever was, dead... well, I suppose she was... mostly dead? Well, anyway, she wasn't entombed on purpose." Still feeling as if he's making things worse, he finishes by saying. "Umm, earthquake."
Ylva:
"Of course, I've got just the thing..." Tupp enthuses as he gets up and slides a stool over to the corner so that he can reach up into a cabinet, "My brother's wife's third cousin gave me the recipe, and whenever I feel bad, it always makes me feel better again." Atop the stool and on tiptoes, the young halfling pulls out some powdered milk and a bar of chocolate from the top shelf, then hops over to the small stove where a pot awaits. "It warms the belly and the soul!" A few minutes later, after emptying a waterskin along with the other ingredients into the pot, and a minor accident with the bag of marshmallows he had planned to use as a comparison with his own recipe, Tupp returns to Ylva with a mug of hot cocoa in each hand. "Here you go! Sorry, but I dropped some marshmallow in the mugs... I hope it doesn't ruin it too much." After giving the exhausted woman the warm cup floating with little sugary pillows of awesomeness, he places an extra blanket over her shoulders and sits back down beside her with his own mug of cocoa. "Do you want to talk about it? I'm always here if you do." Tupp remembers hearing something about the earthquake, but the other news is a little troubling. "Ghosts? In the streets?" He asks, surprised the city watch, or even the Pathfinder Society would allow such a thing. "Maybe we will be needed after all..." He looks ruefully down at his smart new outfit, suddenly feeling under-dressed without his tatty armour. I hope we have time to stop by my room before we go to that place.
Ylva:
As surprised as he is on finding Ylva curled up in fear in his room, Tupp doesn't say a word. Instead, without missing a beat, he quietly sits down beside Ylva, places a comforting hand on her shoulder, and offers her a sympathetic look. He doesn't say anything unless Ylva does, deciding it would be best just to be there, sitting vigil, available to talk if she wanted to, and ready to brew some hot cocoa if needed. "I'm sure it's fine, Sylvak." Tupp notes, "I mean, if it's an archaeological site now, it must be safe or the workers wouldn't be allowed to go down... right?" He hadn't heard of the sad story of the Drownyard before, or the miraculous discovery of the girl, and finds the whole thing fascinating. "Okay... So, Ms Dacilane was down there for ten years... and that was seven years ago... How old is she? Is she even going to want us babysitting her if she's almost as old as Hep?" He asks the eccentric Venture-Captain as he jogs to keep up, sticking noticeably close to the sharply dressed Ylva the whole time, almost like an older brother looking after a worried sibling. He also asks to have a quick look at Hepsubia's new toy if he gets the chance, it sounds like quite a remarkable thing to the young halfling.
"Tupp Thistledown reporting for du- Oh!" Tupp looks up from his bow to notice the unexpectedly abrupt venture-captain is already halfway down the street. As the young Halfling scampers off after Dreng, he struggles a little with his new formal outfit... Well, new might not be the word for it. He's left his normal dusty old armour at his bunk and is currently wearing stiff stripy Hakama that are slightly too short and a Kimono that is slightly too long, both of which were procured last night when Sori had another of her funny turns and decided to nest in a fellow halfling's wardrobe at the Grand Lodge. Luckily, halfling's are fairly laid back and after Tupp spent the whole night doing laundry to apologise for his chicken's actions, he was able to buy a few items the other halfling didn't want anymore for an extremely reasonable price, perfect for today. "Wait for me... Is there danger? Are we off save the king?" He calls, padding awkwardly down the streets in stiff trousers and bare feet to catch up. He may not be wearing his armour, but he still has his well polished sword and scabbard, and his well used pack filled with his usual gear. This could be a mission after all and he can't leave stuff like that behind! However, he can always slip off his backpack if he needs to look more presentable. Riding in her usual position on the pack over Tupp's right shoulder is an unusually quiet Sori. If you didn't know better, you'd be sure that the chicken is embarrassed by the pretty pink bow tied around her neck... Tupp wasn't sure what formal attire was for chickens and made an executive decision.
Ha! I totally forgot that I have a wand of CLW and that I'm actually able to use it myself, so I'll be putting the wand in the wrist sheath and will change my shopping list to... Purchases:
Money Left: 627 - 50= 577gp
Thanks for the reminder Kiango! :)
Might have to take you up on that offer Ylva. I wonder how far you could toss the little guy if we need to quickly cross another river. :) I thought about a wand because I love that spell so much, Zithembe, but I was more thinking of emergency situations like with getting to the minotaur before he killed Janira. A wand might be too slow, but I have wrist sheaths that let me retrieve a potion as a swift action and was thinking of what to put in them. Feather step will be one so that difficult terrain would be less of a problem, but I was hoping for a speed boost too. Is there a potion that negate armour encumbrance, maybe?
Tupp almost drops his new pot in surprise as Ylva bursts into laughter and wraps him in a big old hug. "Don't mention it." He replies to her thanks, although he has no idea what he did to make her feel so much better... Humans are such odd ducks. He then smiles gratefully at the opportunity to talk eye to eye for a change now that Ylva is sitting on her heels. "Oh yes, thank you! I have a small bunk in the Grand Lodge... Well, I think it used to be a cupboard, but it's big enough for all my stuff and it's nice and cosy..." He trails off as he starts thinking about how he first met the young woman in front of him, she had been sleeping on a bench in a tavern. She must be homeless! That's why she's so tired... His eyes go wide. "Do you? I mean, it'll be a squeeze, but you can always crash at my place if you want!" He offers sincerely, "I probably should do some training tonight anyway, so you'll have the whole room to yourself."
As Felix heads around back to check, Tupp looks up at Ylva with a grateful smile. "Thanks Ylva! I don't know what gets into her, she just has these funny turns and just runs off for no-" A cacophonous clatter of pans rings out from the kitchen, followed by a loud, "" and an upturned pot comes running out of the kitchen, closely followed by a cook waving a ladle. "Bok bok bok-" The pot clucks as it runs between the legs of a gaggle of tipsy elves and then into a table, upending itself to reveal the startled looking chicken inside. Sori shakes her head clear and looks up at the angry looking human with the ladle. "Buh-gawk?" "Sori!" Tupp runs off to his chicken's defence, apologising profusely to the poor cook. Finally, after a few minutes of heated negotiation and an exchange of coin, the young halfling returns to the bar and Ylva holding the pot in both hands, Sori still inside. "Well that was lucky! I needed a bigger pot if I'm going to be a Pathfinder... I mean, now I can cook for everyone in the team. You'd be surprised how many people miss second breakfast, but it's the most important meal of the day." He hefts the pot, trying to rebalance the heavy thing so he doesn't drop it. "This one was such a bargain too." He adds with a smile.
"Ylva?!" The familiar voice of an excited young halfling cuts through the sounds of the tavern. On the other side of the room, Tupp jumps up and down, waving his hand in the air to get his fellow initiate- no, his fellow Pathfinder's attention. Not too easy a task when you only come up to the knees of most everyone in the room. "Hey, Ylva it's so great to see you again... Hey, have you got your Wayfinder yet? I got mine this morning, and it looks soo- Oh!" Now that he has finally got close enough to see Ylva's expression, Tupp stops mid-sentence, his hand half buried in his pack where his Wayfinder lies, "Don't worry about it, I'm sure you'll get yours soon! It takes time to engrave those names so neatly." He says reassuringly, once again totally misreading the situation. "I know what'll take your mind off of it! I was just about to attempt making some marshmallows like those Janira had, you want to help me test recipes?" He offers, smiling widely, "I just need to find Sori first... I'm sure she ran in here." He puts his hands on his hips, frowns playfully, and starts looking around for his runaway chicken.
Tupp has never seen the wisdom of drinking from a horn, how do you put it down without spilling everything? or opera for that matter, just a load of people screaming isn't it? and has mixed feelings about chopping off the poor angry minotaur's horns anyway, so the usually helpful halfling refrains from assisting Hepsubia this time. Instead, he spends most of the journey back actively looking around for further dangers, hand almost glues to the hilt of his katana. All the while, his chicken roosts on his backpack, her head bobbing this way and that over his shoulder. "I always found that an effective strategy against larger opponents is to give them a good sharp kick in the shin..." The young halfling offers after Janira shares her tips, "That's what my parents always told me to do to bullies when I was younger, but I still believe it's a good tactic in a fight if you're caught without a weapon or are desper-" Suddenly his eyes narrow and he shoots a look into the underbrush, ready to pounce on the threat, but as a bird flies from a bush he visibly relaxes and continues, "Of course, some people like to aim for a sensitive spot a little bit higher, but I don't think that's any way to win an honourable fight." In the evenings, the aspiring samurai gets out his books and scribbles down everything he can remember that Janira and the others said about fighting larger foes, then starts reading about proper technique from his martial arts books. Although, he is easily distracted by marshmallows and stories. Once the gates of Absalom are pointed out, Tupp cheers and finally relaxes again. "We made it! My brothers are never going to believe me when I write them about what we did for our Confirmation... I mean, you don't see oozes, minotaurs, or gillmen every day do you?"
"Don't worry..." Tupp chirps, putting a hand on the hilt of his sword, "I'll keep guard while you rest! I've been training, and I'm pretty sure nothing can slip by me." As the confident young halfling is explaining his training regime, which seems to involve staring at stones for hours on end without falling asleep, his tired looking chicken finally catches up to the rest of the group, "Buh-" She clucks loudly as she crashes onto the top Tupp's pack, feathers flying everywhere.
When he sees Kiango giving Janiira all her stuff back, Tupp suddenly remembers the potion he stuffed up his sleeve earlier and starts to retrieve it. "Oh and we met a nice Gillman named Uori! He told us that the Gillfolk don't go to the caves because of Aroden, but because..." He frowns slightly, trying to remember why Uori's people bath in the waters in the caves as he passes his fellow halfling the potion, "Well, I don't remember why exactly, but it is really beautiful in there! Glowing blue fungus, fancy carvings, and crystal clear waters... You really need to see it!"
Great game as always Lady Ladile! I know it's not terribly constructive, but all I can do is echo everyone else's thoughts, the game was great and I can't wait for the next one. Plus I promise not to disappear for two weeks next time... Assuming that Paizo works when during my posting hours that is. ;) As for your questions, Theodric, I believe I can help you out. In PFS, you level up every 3XP (which is typically every three scenarios) and items on the sheet are deemed always available for purchase for that character from now on, unless it states otherwise (it says something like 'limit x' which means you can only purchase it x times.) So yes, spend the gold, but don't cross off the item unless it says it is limited. ;)
Tupp holds the pose for a few seconds as the surprised Minotaur topples to the ground, sword held high as the wind and dust created by the mighty *WHOMP!* blows his mussed up, curly hair out of his eyes. He then takes a breath, blinks a few times, and looks around the battlefield full of tired Pathfinders, "I didn't hear that... Did she say three? Ylva, did you say three?" He sheaths his sword and scampers over to anxiously check on Ylva with the others, but smiles warmly when he finds her almost smiling herself. "You know... It would hurt a lot less if you stopped letting things hit you." He jokes as he offers her a hand.
Tupp's eyes widen as Ylva is hacked down yet again by the minotaur's mighty axe. "Hey! Over here you cowardly custard, stop kicking people while they're down and fight with a little courage." He yells at the truculent bovine, stepping forwards and swishing his blade into position for a diagonal swing. "SLAAAAAASHING SNAAAAAAKE!!!" Now that the attack has been called with gusto, all that's left for the halfling samurai to do is take one last exaggerated step and swing upwards towards the beast's knee with as much precision and power as he can muster.
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