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Late afternoon light pours in through the windows of the meeting room in Galt’s Woodsedge Lodge, and the smell of freshly baked pastries wafts in from the kitchen. Venture-Captain Eliza Petulengro sits at the head of a polished mahogany table in front of tall piles of papers. She clears her throat. “I’m glad to see that all of you made it here safely. My name is Eliza Petulengro. And what are the names of the agents who answered my call today?”
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"My name is Elneth" the young female half-elf seems grumbling when something more is expected back for a name "Farnes. Surname is Farnes"
The woman seems well armored and carries a good quality bow and greataxe with her "So Eliza... why are we here at Galt's lodge?" she eases herself a couple of pastries eating the first one with impudence.
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A Tall half-elf, clad in full plate, with a steel shield across his back, and a well-crafted cold iron morningstar at his hip, but who also has a pair of pince-nez glasses clipped to the bridge of his nose, nods to the others.
"Well met. My name is Cayden Barleybrew," he says with a grimace. "...and before anyone asks, my father *was* a brewer, and he may have been drunk at the time of the naming ceremony. If there are any jokes that you wish to make, please get them out of the way now."
He then sighs.
"I would prefer it if you just called me Cay, though."
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Elneth smiles back interested at the half-elf "Fathers have a hard tendency to be drunkards it seems. At least yours made a profit of it. Others just walk the port streets vomiting their inner self and getting into fights with the local guard to great shame of their daughters" she nods to him "Well met Cayden"
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A young gal of apparent Tiefling blood, as evidenced by the horns protruding from her forehead, wears a smile as she listens to those introducing themselves. Parting around the horns and hanging just above shoulder level all the way around is a mane of pale blue hair. The woman’s garb consists of a white, sleeveless undertunic of perhaps a Tian style which rests under a long leather vest which cinches under her bosom. The knee-length vest is split up the back allowing the sickles resting in their crossed sheaths to be easily accessible. The woman’s arms have sleeve-like coverings which match the undertunic and these coverings are buckled in place by leather wraps on the forearms and biceps.
Seeing that it is apparently her turn, she begins with a simple, “Heya! I’m Lili Thulgust. I’m a sorceress.” She waits a beat as she watches some of the others take in the extremely rogue-like attire and try to balance that with the statement of being a sorceress. “Yeah, I get that a lot. The fam’s from Jalmaray and we’re all magicky types, I guess,” and she reaches up to touch one of her horns, “it’s a demon blood thing, or so I’m told. Anyway, they’re all scholarly book research types and I just…I mean…that’s so…boring! I wanted to get out and see the world, not just read about magicky things that happened in it ages ago. So yeah, I focused a bit more on training with these,” and she draws her sickles in a fluid motion and uses one to lift a pastry off the tray before them, “and with mum and pop’s blessing, I set out to live an adventure instead of just reading about ‘em.”
“Anyway,” she says, sheathing a sickle and using the now-emptied hand to take the pastry, “I’m just looking forward to seeing another corner of the world and maybe getting into some scrapes along the way.” She then turns towards those who have already spoken, saying, “Elneth, Cay, a pleasure to meet you both,” then turns to those who have not yet introduced themselves and says, “and the rest of you as well,” and throws a smile and a wink their way as she takes a bite of the pastry.
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Now, now, it's rather rude to make jokes about someone else's name - especially when it's not their fault. Hi Cay She waves to the half
This comes from a short woman wearing formfitting black leather armour, from foot to neck with shoulder length black hair and green eyes. She also helps herself to a pastry while, seemingly, giving Lili an appraising look. She moves with the grace of an acrobat or a dancer.
I'm Nightkit ... the Cat of the Night ... at least I was in my younger days on the street. Now I use my roguey skills for street entertaining and helping out fellow Pathfinders. I'm especially good at sneaking, acrobatics, and escaping from confinements.
So .. hi Lili as she tears her gaze from her and focuses on Elneth and Elneth ... who also gets an appraising look ... So .. what's the mission?
She then sighs a bit. At least you guys knew your father ....
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"An acrobat? I like acrobatics. I was always looking for them when the circus would come to Sandpoint" Elneth smiles to the newcomer "Hi Nightkit, nice to meet you"
To Lili, Elneth does not seem scared by the presence of the demon blooded one, instead she approaches and points at the horns in the front "Are those real ones or it is just some kind of addition you made to look scary? I ask because I always thought it must be very uncomfortable to sleep on them. Hi Lilith, happy to explore with you"
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Lili listens attentively as NightKit speaks, but then is suddenly having an interesting interaction with the Half-Elf.
After a short laugh, she says, "Nah, they're real. Go ahead, touch 'em. It's fine, they won't fall off or douse you in abyssal flames," and gives her a playful wink. "And no, they don't really mess with my sleep, but then again, they've just always been there. And it's actually just Lili, not Lilith. It isn't short for anything, it's just a short name," and gives the other gal a reassuring smile to let her know she's not offended by the usage of the name.
When that interaction is finished, she moves a bit closer to NightKit, eyeing her body more than her face and says, "May I?" as she extends her hand out towards the other gal, but then, as if suddenly realizing it may be misconstrued says, "It's...very finely made armor. I grew up around wizardy types. Had to specially commission this," and she gestures towards her long vest that, now that she brings it up, was probably just a design for a robe that was adapted to make armor. "Just always fascinated by good craftsmanship," and then adds, almost as an afterthought, "and you wear it very well."
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"I might have confused the start of your surname with the end of your name Lili. Typical Elneth dumbness" the half-elf laughs too and approaches to touch the horns while showing her tongue in the effort to reach the sorcerer front "That would be funny if they would burn me in abyssal flames, isn't it? Oh, they are hard indeed. Even is you sleep well, I can guess you have holed more than one pillow before. Oh! Unless you sleep hanging from the ceiling. I have heard some vampires do so"
She gets thoughtful then corrects "I am not implying you are a vampire of course" Elneth takes another pastry "I would be very interested in that show Night. Have you touched Lili's horns, they are really cool to the touch"
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Nightkit actually does reach up and touches the horns, Hm .. see whatcha mean ... erm .. do you have to trim them from time to time - I presume they still grow .. like fingernails.
And yeah. I've actually heard that hanging upside down is good for the back. Maybe I should try that. Usually when I'm hanging upside down, I'm usually trying to escape from the restraints before the main rope burns through and I fall.
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Lili laughs just a little at the question about trimming her horns. "No, they don't keep growing. I mean, they grew as I was growing up, but we're all done growing now. My nails do grow, though...into claws. Again, it's the demon thing. Really handy, actually. Oh!" she says, looking down at her nails, "literally handy" and she gives a big smile at her own joke.
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Lili gives the Half-Elf a smile and says, "I'll show you the claws when we get into battle. It's something I can only do for a short time each day, so I'd hate to use up some of that time now and not have it when there's a target in front of me," and she gives her a wink.
Lili suddenly becomes aware that their discussion has dominated what was supposed to be time for the whole group to introduce themselves and there are still voices that have not been heard. "Come, friends," she says, taking Elneth and NightKit each by the hand and stepping back into line, "let's get to know the others as well," and as they get back in line, she slip an arm around each of the other gals and says, quietly and happily, "friends."
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The bald dwarf in the corner has been watching the byplay between the group for a few moments, before finally stepping forward and introducing himself. He wears simple robes, and a staff was leaning in the corner where he stood. His beard barely scratches the top of his robe, apparently worn short for a dwarf of his age.
Good day all, My name is Markus, Stonewarden. Since we're comparing families, mine is a long line of city watchmen in Highhelm, but I didn't feel the calling of law and order as keenly as they did.
Taking in the party he greets them all briefly, as if trying to fix their names to each face, Good day Cay, Elneth, Lili, and Nightkit. I do love acrobatics and tumblers, hopefully someday we'll be able to take in your performance!
Markus helps himself to a pastry and sits, lower joints cracking, as he folds himself into the chair. Galt is an interesting place, isn't it? I like the profound individuality although the systems of revolution seem merely to exist to further themselves, historically speaking of course.
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Nightkit whispers back Friends She then gives Lili a gentle and playful hip bump.
Well Markus, I'll look forward on hearing you fill in the background bits as we go. My knowledge of Galt is ... basically, not much
As for the performance - maybe there will be an opportunity or two on our journey. She ponders a bit. Be nice if there's an opportunity to go for a swim ... sometimes I spend as much time in the water as out of it
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Another dwarf, decked out in deep red and black attire, stands up as he introduces himself. "Ganzer Pendral's the name. Father weren't no drunk, but he did have a firm hand. Deeply religious, and so I suppose I am following in his footprints to someday take over his ministry. But he says to me, 'Go seek adventure, son. Have some stories to tell so you can better relate to the flock and bring them closer to our oft misunderstood Asmodeus.' I heard that the Pathfinders were a well organized group to help me do exactly that, so I joined up some small time ago. And so here I am. Nice to meet you all."
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Hearing NightKit's comment about being the only orphan, Lili lets out a, "Poor baby!" and the arm around her hugs her more tightly as Lili tucks her chin down before laying her head on NightKit's shoulder so that she doesn't accidentally impale her new friend with her horns while trying to comfort her.
Without releasing the embrace, she says, "Heya, Markus and Ganzer! Nice ta meetcha!"
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"Aye, that I am. Speaking of being an orphan, though, I suppose to be truthful, weren't really my father I speak of - more of the father-figure type. Hellknight, he is. Long story there. They say I originally come from the Five Mountains, but I don't have much recollection of them days. But he and the Sisters of the Golden Erinyes taught me well. I will endeavor to be a good asset to you all."
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Greetings Ganzer, Markus greets his fellow dwarf, then hesitates a moment before looking back over to Kit and Lili,
Swimming is great fun, and a great workout. I prefer climbing myself, but a good swim is always fun too! I am sorry to hear that you are an orphan, it is sad, but we gotta make what we can out of ourselves, right?
"Galt... is an interesting experiment, although the frequent changes inherent in the 'Committee Of Public Safety' can make it perilous; you never know what might have suddenly become dangerous behaviour..."
That's what I'm getting outta this place, be careful what you say, and who you talk to, but not too careful, or else you'll be arrested as a spy... Markus laughs.
"As expected. Excellent." Moments later, a wiry man wearing a tailored suit strides into the room. A white porcelain mask covers his face, and he wears a thin red ribbon around his neck. In his gloved hands, he carries a tray of sweet and savory pies, which he sets in the center of the table before quietly slipping away. The venture-captain serves herself a generous slice of pie. “Mind that you don’t get food on the papers,” she says. “They record the information that your fellow agents have been gathering about the ebb and flow of Galtan society. To perform such work properly is, unfortunately, far less interesting than it sounds."
She nods to each of you. "I have a more engaging opportunity in mind for you. You’ll be traveling about a hundred miles up the Sellen River to the village of Rosehaven. Rosehaven is the home of Armeline, a savvy information gatherer who was once a reliable contact for the Pathfinder Society. Twelve years ago, she was accused of espionage against the revolution in connection with some of her past work with the Society. She sent a cry for help the Grand Lodge. It was an exceedingly difficult situation, considering only a few months earlier revolutionaries stormed this very lodge and killed my predecessor and her servants. Following that tragedy, the Decemvirate suspended all operations in Galt. It was a sensible decision—after all, the Decemvirate is not in the business of sending agents on suicide missions— but it seemed a death sentence for Armeline. Whether through luck, guile, or both, Armeline survived. I would like to extend a formal apology to her, and hopefully convince her to consider working with the Society in the future. We have before us the perfect opportunity. Rosehaven’s upcoming festival culminates in a ceremony of ritual forgiveness, which may encourage her to move past the Society’s unfortunate necessity so many years ago."
"I’ve arranged for a riverboat to pick you up at dawn. You’ll arrive in Rosehaven in the morning of the first day of the festival." Eliza frowns, “Oh, and one more thing. I have a hunch, and I learned to trust my hunches years ago. I doubt this mission will be as simple as it seems. Stay alert.”
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"Seems a complicated diplomatic situation indeed. Who accused Armeline of espionage and why?" Elneth comes back to a more serious stance as the venture captain arrives to the end of his briefing. She picks up another pastry "For what you say it is likely Armeline will be hidden and will not trust we are Pathfinders trying to help by when we reach the town... Is there anything else you can tell us about Armeline or Rosehaven that might win her trust?"
“Rosehaven is a village along the Sellen River, home to several hundred people. Its isolation shields it from the cycle of revolution, for the most part. Its people make their living primarily through farming and fishing.”. She directs her answer towards Elneth. "Beyond that, I am afraid I don't know much. The festival is a three day celebration. I personally do not know the details so you'll have to ask the locals when you arrive.". She pauses. "Oh yes, villagers do hollow out gourds, carve them with fanciful and even frightful designs, and then place lit candles within to ward off evil."
Eliza continues. "In Galt, guilt and innocence are too often tried at the court of public opinion. Whether or not Armeline's actions truly constituted espionage had little bearing on her purported crimes, much less the intentions behind what she was doing.”
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"Ohm, a coco festival? That sound something like fun. Are you sure we are getting paid for this?" the half-elf looks around at everyone involved "All of us?"
"Can you give us a few names of relevant people at Rosehaven we shall take into account?" Elneth thinks a bit then adds "And do you know anything about the events that led Armeline end accused of espionage at Galt?"
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Lili has been standing there quietly and thoughtfully for a moment and finally asks, somewhat uncomfortably, "So, when you say they're trying to ward off evil, do you think they'll think..." and she removes her arm from around Elneth and touches one of her horns, looking at the Venture-Captain with a concerned expression.
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If you were evil. you wouldn't even be in the Pathfinder Society. Nightkit replied, attempting to reassure the sorceress. Trust me. I've had my own soul brought bare and examined enough times, and they keep telling me I'm just the embodiment of Chaos but I mean well
She gives Lili a reassuring squeeze with the arm snaked around her waist.
Besides, I'll vouch for you if anyone starts anything - with my fists if I have to
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At the show of kindness and support, Lili just smiles, moves as if brushing a stray hair away from her eye (or was it to wipe a tear?), places her arm back around Elneth, and quietly says, "Thank you."
Though, after a quiet moment, she adds, "But yes, I can handle myself and I'll defend you all as well," then, with a little squeeze for her gal pals, adds in, "friends."
Answering Elneth's question about payment, "You will indeed get paid for your efforts. But more importantly, enjoy your time at the festival. As Pathfinders, I trust you to make the best judgements you can. Your boat will depart at dawn. I suggest collecting your things and prepare for your journey". She then dismisses you, turning back to several papers on her desk.
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The following day at dawn, the group meets at the dock at Woodsedge. A large riverboat awaits them there with a crew of four experienced sailors. It moves slowly but steadily up the Sellen River towards Rosehaven. After about ten days on the river, the riverboat arrives at Rosehaven the day of the start of the festival. The dockmarket is abuzz with news of the festival. It serves as a dock and a market. Fresh herbs and vegetables line some stalls, fish hang from ropes, drying in the air. Asking around, news is that the ceremony to start the festival begins in about an hour.
A few other boats also arrived in time for the festival. The group notices some others openly wielding weapons, but they are not brandishing or threatening anyone with them.
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Since the departure is not until the next day, Lili invites Elneth and NightKit to come with her to shop for two waterskins. As they're on the way to get them, she explains that the big drawback with claws is that she has to wash her hands after every fight.
As they're in the marketplace, an idea suddenly strikes her and she grabs the other gals by the hands and rushes over towards an older woman who appears to be selling nothing but different types of cloth. "Do you have anything that would match this?" she says, pointing at the cloth on her "sleeves." Finding some material that at least somewhat matches, she buys two lengths of cloth that can be used as ribbons. She hands one to each of her new friends and invites them to tie the ribbons into bows around her horns. That done, she gives a nice "ta-da!" sort of pose and says, "See? Cute and non-evil looking! Now let's go back to the inn and I'll show you my demon claws!" Also, when they get back to the inn, she offers to let NightKit try on her armor since she was interested in it.
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During their time on the river, Lili gets to know her traveling companions a bit better and particularly finds time to chat with Elneth and NightKit. She reveals that the first time she learned she could manifest the claws was when she was a youngster and a boy was being mean and saying lots of nonsense and then went as far as to say that her mother must have...you know...with a demon and when this rage overtook her, the claws just popped out and she slashed his arm. The other kids didn't openly tease her after that, but it made her feel a bit more like an outcast as the only little demon child in their town and as the only member of her family who didn't just want to study magic books.
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Elneth is eager to go shopping, she gives many different kind of hats for Lili and tries out some herself. Eventually she settles with a yellow headband made of cloth. She is amused while tying Lili's new ribbons on her horns "You are a true cutie now. Everyone at Rosehaven is going to be breath-taken"
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"You made good to slash at that bastard Lili. You have to set clearly the limits. I would have been very scared though to see something like that growing in my hands" Elneth checks her own hands with disbelief "Some boys at Sandpoint were also unbearable. I used to hit them with apples, wooden lodges and whatever I would manage to grasp. My father laughed a lot while I did that kind of stuff, but others at town were pointing at me."
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Once at Rosehaven, the girl starts to look through all the stalls with excitement. She manages to buy a bundle of carrots, and taking one she starts to eat it while they walk down the street "Do you want some?"
She starts to help others question where might Armeline's house.
But her character grants she is not focused for long, observing the layout she quickly points out to a beautiful building on a corner of the village instead of securing the night's lodgement first "There is flower garden! Let's check it there! Let's check it!"
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Nightkit is only too happy to go shopping with Lili and Elneth. She's a little cagey about her time as a young girl just saying it was hard to live on the streets and trying to avoid some men's 'attentions'. It wasn't until she tried breaking into a Venture Captain's house in Absalom and getting caught, was when her life changed. Because of how far she got, the VC had been rather impressed and, instead of turning her into the guards, sat her down and convinced her to join the Society. She was a bit distrustful at first but found it was a much better life with more opportunity.She too helped tie a ribbon on Lili's horns.
Also, on the trip up, the last afternoon before arrival on the river boat. Nightkit had put on a sort of a show, limited by what space she had to work with, full of dance and acrobatic moves, while dressed in a rather fetching formfitting performers outfit. For the finale, she was only wearing a two piece green outfit, that she uses for swimming. Her hands were tied behind her back and some chain was wrapped around her. She then stepped to the edge of the boat and jumped into the water. It took her just under three minutes to escape from her restraints and swim back on board. So part of what she was purchasing was more rope (coloured silk if she can get it) and chain etc to replace those lost.
Of course when Elneth points out the garden. Nightkit had to join her in investigating it. Ooooh .. I hope there are butterflies. I LOVE butterflies
She's also not very good at diplomacy but she uses it to help find lodging and also to enquire if she can perform during the festival as a side show act.
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Lili gushes about how amazing NightKit's show and mentions, with a bit of embarrassment, that she was just about to jump into the water to save her when she surfaced.
Lili and her bow-clad horns set off with her pals to try to find out where Armeline lives.
However, when Elneth points out a garden, Lili happily rushes over to see the pretty flowers with her friends.
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Nightkit just grins at Lili when she admits that Wouldn't be the first time that's happened she admits. And ... my 'friends' used to make coin by placing bets on my performance She frowned a bit You'd be surprised on how many people would bet against me?
She sighs again. What really irked was them trying to push me to go beyond my limits. At least that doesn't happen no more. But yeah .. when we were 'practising' our thievery skills in the gang, if the boys could find an excuse to tie me up, they would .. so I learnt to escape. It was either that or be ridiculed and picked on.