- Location
- Argentina
Add, as a way to defuse this argument for later, that they can go to a priest and ask for confirmation. This moves the problem for later but defuses the social bomb
Age of Ice and Blood: A Pathfinder System Heroic Fantasy Quest
- Thread starter DragonParadox
- Start date
- Original Fantasy
-
- Tags
- pathfinder open voting
Add, as a way to defuse this argument for later, that they can go to a priest and ask for confirmation. This moves the problem for later but defuses the social bomb
The vote is a tie. Now would be the time to vote if you have an opinion on the matter
Goldfish
Friendly Spider-Fish Abomination
- Location
- Formerly of the Far Realm
Is this something Esha would be comfortable with, @DragonParadox? She didn't exactly get the warmest welcome from those associated with Ikomi's temple last time we were here.
*rolls dice*
She is not happy with the notion but she will go along with it for the sake of not causing unneeded conflict.
Goldfish
Friendly Spider-Fish Abomination
- Location
- Formerly of the Far Realm
Okay, plan updated.
[X] Do not back down Esha did not use magic on the players or the dice, but instead to make herself seem like an inexperienced player. Those who lost their gold against Esha did so while feeling secure in their assumptions that they were bilking a new player who was merely lucky rather than a skilled opponent. Shame on them.
-[X] And if the losers wish to double down on their poor gamesmanship, we can always seek out a Cleric willing to cast a truth-telling spell.
- Location
- Texas
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] Goldfish
Arc 10 Post 25: Matching the Wager
Matching the Wager
Thirty-Sixth Day of Ikomi-eza (Ikomi Ascendant) 1348 A. L. (After Landfall)
"Pardon, I do not speak your tongue well." Your tone is anything but apologetic and a lack of sword and armor does not mean you cannot loom if you must. "Why you say she won because witch?" Alas you must still sound like a half-taught foreigner, though that is probably better than sounding like a Anwa reaver. "Proof? Witness?" You raise your hands in front of your face and part them to show the air. "Nothing. You say witch now, before sure you could beat one you did not know, yes."
Trying to say two things, one aloud and one silently, is akin to trying to listen to two different conversations, only about ten times harder, but still you manage to get something across. "Ask for priest, show proof?"
Esha is obviously not happy with the notion, but you can read no such feeling upon her countenance, instead she picks up the thread of your words gracefully. "I cast no spell upon the bones as they were cast to make it fall to my will and not that of Nikure who brings fortune to men, if you would wish for proof of this than summon now a priest and I shall under their spell answer all they might ask about the means and manner of my victory."
"Bah... truth spells are easy to cast off by the wicked as much as the righteous. I..." Bragi looks at his wife whose attempts to restrain him, not to say 'drag him away', had grown a good bit more forceful. He cuts himself off and looks around at the steadily growing crowd you had drawn. They watch with avid eyes and quiet they are not.
"Can you imagine being such a poor sport you still argue about something half a year later..." a tall thin fellow with a curling mustache that gives his face almost the image of a bird in flight says.
"What sort of woman makes her silver betting on Senim?" This from an older lady who wears her head covered with an embroidered cloth circle in the manner of a widow.
"The kind that travels with a parcel of mercenaries, Nan," this from a younger woman, probably her grandmother or great aunt if you understand the honorific aright.
Esha does not seem to be paying much mind to the words of the onlookers and instead follows Bragi and his young wife as they turn on their heels and without another word leave the hall. "I shall not disturb the feast, ill chosen though the honor may be to haggle like a peddler at market, good day to you all," the man says in a tone that struggles and fails to contain his outrage.
So swift indeed are they that you can hear a servant calling out for them to take their shawl and cloak... so swift are they not even the host has a chance to say farewells. Thus you are left among the storm of whispers, rendered more interesting by moment, though not in a manner you might have preferred.
Who do you approach?
[] Bragi seems apologetic, drinking in a corner away from the crowds he had so eagerly sought beforehand, he he claims he has an offer of employment, still even if you do not take it at least you can learn more of where he fits without blurting out a question
[] Antonio motions you over to speak of the raising of horses, particularly with an eye to capturing the wild horses of this land to perhaps breed with your own stock
[] A man wearing not robes but red fringed pants, one of the first such garments you have ever seen would like to speak of your journeys. According to Esha he is one of an order sworn to carry messages to far off places while keeping them secret and safe from all eyes, likely he wants to hear of the less fantastical parts of your journeys, perhaps more
[] The young lord himself, Odorin Koire, looks as though he had been asked to sit on a bed of needles, perhaps you can offer some advice and in the doing mend any loss of goodwill the moment might have cost
OOC: These are not your only options, more will appear as you do things that interest people or as Roland notices interesting guests.
Last edited:
Goldfish
Friendly Spider-Fish Abomination
- Location
- Formerly of the Far Realm
You mean Esha's attention is on them, right, not that she is literally following them out? How upset did Toki's wife seem to be with him?
Hopefully one or more of the conversation options will be available for later, but I think there couldn't be a better time to speak with Odorin than right now. He seems like he needs some reassurance, if nothing else, and maybe some friendly advice.
[X] The young lord himself, Odorin Koire looks as though he had been asked to sit on a bed of needles, perhaps you can offer some advice and in the doing mend any loss of goodwill the moment might have cost
- Location
- Texas
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] The young lord himself, Odorin Koire looks as though he had been asked to sit on a bed of needles, perhaps you can offer some advice and in the doing mend any loss of goodwill the moment might have cost
She she is following them with her gaze. As for how the lady feels, well she looks upset, but it is hard to say if the cause is anything you did or her husband.
- Location
- Germany
[X] Bragi seems apologetic, drinking in a corner away from the crowds he had so eagerly sought beforehand, he he claims he has an offer of employment, still even if you do not take it at least you can learn more of where he fits without blurting out a question
- Location
- Argentina
[X] The young lord himself, Odorin Koire looks as though he had been asked to sit on a bed of needles, perhaps you can offer some advice and in the doing mend any loss of goodwill the moment might have cost
The kid likely doesn't have a family to trust. Might as well help him and get better relations in the long term.
The kid likely doesn't have a family to trust. Might as well help him and get better relations in the long term.
- Location
- United States
[X] The young lord himself, Odorin Koire looks as though he had been asked to sit on a bed of needles, perhaps you can offer some advice and in the doing mend any loss of goodwill the moment might have cost
Time for Dad!Roland to make another appearance
Time for Dad!Roland to make another appearance
Goldfish
Friendly Spider-Fish Abomination
- Location
- Formerly of the Far Realm
Most likely, though it would be the effort of years. Probably at least a few equine generations before the breeding program began producing what we would think of as acceptable mounts.
Przewalski's horse can breed with their domestic relatives, so yeah they can totally breed and produce fertile offspring.
That said the local horses are likely to be way too small to ride for a long time...at least by armored knights and you do not know how to make a chariot.
There is actually an interesting theory about the early days of horse domestication and why we see warrior women among the Scythians and others of the North Pontic Steppe, the inspiration for the Amazons of Greek tale. as horses got bigger they could start to bear a rider, but the thing is that they still could not bear a large or heavy one so women were favored as mounted warriors for a good span of time there.
I was under impression that producing fertile offsprings is actually in question:
You changed that?
Goldfish
Friendly Spider-Fish Abomination
- Location
- Formerly of the Far Realm
Huh, another neat historical factoid. You're full of these things, DP. 🤓
Oops, did not realize I did a ruling on that. Looking back over the comments it was probably because we do not actually know if the archaic horses of Europe would be able to breed as easily as their Mongolian kin (which are after all closer to the common ancestor of domestic and wild hoses). So yeah it is uncertain if they can breed with any of the local hoses... but there are people willing to try anyway.
@DragonParadox, editing for the previous update:
Thirty-Sixth Day of Ikomi-eza (Ikomi Ascendant) 1348 A. L. (After Landfall)
"Would you speak of..." you begin, but before the full question is even formed in your thoughts Esha shakes her head sharply.
"There are some things best not bandied about for the gossips to pick over like crows with a carcass."
"That is not a tale for this day, honorable Bragi," you say, choosing the words with care so as not to let some slip of the tongue embarrass you. Alas if that were all you had to worry about...
The man in grey and silver laughs, as though he just heard the best jest he had heard all evening. "Ah, a pity then for I have held that question in my heart for many months. You see, I met the lady in the summer in a place where many hearts were lost, many hearts and some heads even..." Again he smiles brightly, but this time Esha's expression shifts from confusion to worry for a moment, gone so fast you might have thought you had imagined the whole thing if you did not still feel the nervousness upon her thoughts like a pale of acrid smoke.
"You must be mistaken good sir, for I did not know your face or your voice before this day and surely I would not have forgotten one as noble of mien and fair of manner as yourself," she says with full and unshaken aplomb.
"Ah, but your eyes were upon the board where mine were upon you, fair lady... and not only my eyes," Bragi replies. "While it is hardly that uncommon to see a stranger in the Broken Carafe laying silver on the game of Senim it is rare indeed to see one start with so little and gain so much as the Lady of the Blue Veil. Why, by the end decent winnings could be had simply betting on thine own victory. Is it any wonder then that I have marked the person 'neath the mask?"
A odd, uneasy silence had fallen over this corner of the hall, enough so that Antonio had raised his head from his talks, but among the titters and curious whispers that follow it is one man who looks on with a look far from indulgent, the fellow who you had noted before, saying that you must have looted the tin and not carried it from the north, Toki. His gaze is like hot coals on Bragi as he moves ponderously.
"He who makes light of misfortune shall not lightly escape the prick of Nikure's spindle," he proclaims.
Esha brushes the tip of her fingers against yours, a flash of magic in the doing. "I fear I have lead you unknowing into a snare and now it is closing, I will do my best to distract them..."
Whatever else she had wished to say, whatever means she might have found to extricate herself, you do not know for Bragi is still speaking, for the first time a hint of anger in his words at the affront. "I do not jest nor do I speak lightly. Tis her. I know her by the lilt of her words that speaks of far Agber and if you would invoke Nikure than so shall I. That woman was the Lady of the Blue Veil, the one who won no less than six times six games of Senim and who thus gained herself a small fortune form many who are here, though if I recall aright none lost so much as you in bright gems Toki..."
"Did you...?" you whisper the words this time, in French, less so for the secrecy and more because surprise has robbed you for the moment of other means.
"Yes. It was the swiftest, surest way to gain enough wealth not to impose upon your charity," she replies.
Truth be told you would have preferred that to the very much uncharitable look of Toki the mage-blooded, as he has been reminded of his losses at the gaming table in a most public and humiliating manner.
"So then she is a witch. I knew that could not be any natural luck, but twisted sorcery that makes folly of fate!" he shouts, shaking off his wife's hand as she tries to restrain him. "I demand that my property be restored to me!"
Esha's thoughts flow into your mind almost too fast to parse now, faster by far than words through air can pass. "I used no magic in moving the bones nor in the course of the game, though I did present myself in a manner that seemed to the eyes of the other players less skillful in the game, but if they were the sorts who upon seeing such a 'lucky streak' thought to profit by it then they deserve their fate."
What do you do?
[] Give in, you can pay what he is asking for, though it stings and the admission of dishonesty would likely harm you more (Lose 5,000 gp; Esha will pay you back 3,200 that remains of her initial haul)
[] Deny Bragi's words altogether, it is only his word against yours and he does not even seem to be a noble
[] Do not back down, Esha did not use magic on the players or the dice, only on herself
[] Write in
OOC: Esha did not cheat at the game proper, she is just very good at the strategy aspect and got good dice rolls, but she did use Aspect of Innocence to buff her bluff through the roof and play the novice with a lucky streak which drew in more players with more money and by the time she was done she had squired quite the haul.
Games Old and New
Thirty-Sixth Day of Ikomi-eza (Ikomi Ascendant) 1348 A. L. (After Landfall)
"Would you speak of..." you begin, but before the full question is even formed in your thoughts Esha shakes her head sharply.
"There are some things best not bandied about for the gossips to pick over like crows with a carcass."
"That is not a tale for this day, honorable Bragi," you say, choosing the words with care so as not to let some slip of the tongue embarrass you. Alas if that were all you had to worry about...
The man in grey and silver laughs, as though he just heard the best jest he had heard all evening. "Ah, a pity then for I have held that question in my heart for many months. You see, I met the lady in the summer in a place where many hearts were lost, many hearts and some heads even..." Again he smiles brightly, but this time Esha's expression shifts from confusion to worry for a moment, gone so fast you might have thought you had imagined the whole thing if you did not still feel the nervousness upon her thoughts like a pale of acrid smoke.
"You must be mistaken good sir, for I did not know your face or your voice before this day and surely I would not have forgotten one as noble of mien and fair of manner as yourself," she says with full and unshaken aplomb.
"Ah, but your eyes were upon the board where mine were upon you, fair lady... and not only my eyes," Bragi replies. "While it is hardly that uncommon to see a stranger in the Broken Carafe laying silver on the game of Senim it is rare indeed to see one start with so little and gain so much as the Lady of the Blue Veil. Why, by the end decent winnings could be had simply betting on thine own victory. Is it any wonder then that I have marked the person 'neath the mask?"
A odd, uneasy silence had fallen over this corner of the hall, enough so that Antonio had raised his head from his talks, but among the titters and curious whispers that follow it is one man who looks on with a look far from indulgent, the fellow who you had noted before, saying that you must have looted the tin and not carried it from the north, Toki. His gaze is like hot coals on Bragi as he moves ponderously.
"He who makes light of misfortune shall not lightly escape the prick of Nikure's spindle," he proclaims.
Esha brushes the tip of her fingers against yours, a flash of magic in the doing. "I fear I have lead you unknowing into a snare and now it is closing, I will do my best to distract them..."
Whatever else she had wished to say, whatever means she might have found to extricate herself, you do not know for Bragi is still speaking, for the first time a hint of anger in his words at the affront. "I do not jest nor do I speak lightly. Tis her. I know her by the lilt of her words that speaks of far Agber and if you would invoke Nikure than so shall I. That woman was the Lady of the Blue Veil, the one who won no less than six times six games of Senim and who thus gained herself a small fortune form many who are here, though if I recall aright none lost so much as you in bright gems Toki..."
"Did you...?" you whisper the words this time, in French, less so for the secrecy and more because surprise has robbed you for the moment of other means.
"Yes. It was the swiftest, surest way to gain enough wealth not to impose upon your charity," she replies.
Truth be told you would have preferred that to the very much uncharitable look of Toki the mage-blooded, as he has been reminded of his losses at the gaming table in a most public and humiliating manner.
"So then she is a witch. I knew that could not be any natural luck, but twisted sorcery that makes folly of fate!" he shouts, shaking off his wife's hand as she tries to restrain him. "I demand that my property be restored to me!"
Esha's thoughts flow into your mind almost too fast to parse now, faster by far than words through air can pass. "I used no magic in moving the bones nor in the course of the game, though I did present myself in a manner that seemed to the eyes of the other players less skillful in the game, but if they were the sorts who upon seeing such a 'lucky streak' thought to profit by it then they deserve their fate."
What do you do?
[] Give in, you can pay what he is asking for, though it stings and the admission of dishonesty would likely harm you more (Lose 5,000 gp; Esha will pay you back 3,200 that remains of her initial haul)
[] Deny Bragi's words altogether, it is only his word against yours and he does not even seem to be a noble
[] Do not back down, Esha did not use magic on the players or the dice, only on herself
[] Write in
OOC: Esha did not cheat at the game proper, she is just very good at the strategy aspect and got good dice rolls, but she did use Aspect of Innocence to buff her bluff through the roof and play the novice with a lucky streak which drew in more players with more money and by the time she was done she had squired quite the haul.