Age of Ice and Blood: A Pathfinder System Heroic Fantasy Quest
- Thread starter DragonParadox
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Is this
[X] Speak to Serik Priest of Ashinu about the curse upon your men
a valid write-in for this vote, or do we have to wait for some other time?
It is yeah.
And how many more actions we'll have, including this one? Two, so another one after that? Or is this action the last?
You will get one more action after this one, you are only in the middle of the month.
@DragonParadox, editing:
Eighteenth Day of Ikomi-hamba (Ikomi Descendant) 1348 A. L. (After Landfall)
"I understand why you have not asked for a loan from the Fellowship, my lord. Admittedly, we have done much for you that others might consider charity, and accepting more merely compounds the issue. For one with a background such as yours, this must be a nearly intolerable situation." Ah, how many words have gone to the soothing of wounded pride over the years. Even as you speak the words you are reminded almost irresistibly of Silver saying 'humans brush each other's manes all the time, just not with their hands'. Thankfully you have a bit more than empty reassurance to offer. "This is why I am not going to offer you a loan. Come spring, Marcella and the men of the Fellowship will sail for Apuku once more, to fulfill a pledge to aid them in a coming battle against dark forces."
"And you wish for my aid, mine and that of my men as we were in the battle with the reavers?" Neios sounds cautious and little wonder, for that journey would not lead him towards home but away, not to mention that one man's 'dark forces' might be another's bootless errand.
"I won't ask you to endanger yourself or your guards on our mission, for you have your own path to follow," you offer reassurance. "Instead, I wish you to watch over Wayfarer's Respite, to assist those men we leave behind in guarding it from the unscrupulous who call Orinilu home, and to continue training the guardsmen serving House Koire in our absence." God and all His saints know the sorry bastards need it. You have the sinking feeling that some of them had never used a weapon in anger and even those of the Koire armsmen who had did so under someone else's watch.
"And in return for this... favor?" he asks surprised, and perhaps looking for some barb in the hook still for so great a show of trust. Truth be told every man you can scrounge up from garrison duty here is one more Fellowship soldier in the battle for Korman, and that might be the edge betwixt victory and defeat.
"For this service, when we return from our campaign among the Anwari islands, the Fellowship will reimburse you for your time and expertise, providing you the coin needed to fund your return to your homeland free of debts or favors owed. This would not be charity or even a loan, but something you have earned by the sweat of your brow and the skill of your arms. What say you, Lord Neios?"
He does not answer at once but leans back in his seat, hands on his temples as though fighting a headache. For all his attempts to hide it on the young lord's face you can read the anger of pride seeking redress warring with the demands of practicality. Thankfully, as on that distant northern shore, the latter wins.
"So do I swear upon my honor, under the light of the Thousand Gods," he vows as the stars start to kindle upon the sky outside, the words plain and few, but no less honestly meant for it.
"Three more blades to hold the walls?" Tom grunts when you give him the news later that evening as you were trying to work out if you could mix the hauling of stones and the training of men to bear heavier armor for days through.
You know that tone all too well... "But?"
"He's got a grudge in the city, doesn't he? Whose to say he wouldn't try to deal with it while he is a guest between these same walls? No offense, my lord..."
"Tom, I haven't heard you to give offense once in your live to those who did not deserve to be offended," you sigh. "Say your piece."
"Most highborn aren't as sensible 'bout matters of honor as you are, are they? If this Neios fellow, lord if you please, gets into his head that he can have his revenge by one means or another, who's going to argue him out of it? The men we leave to take care of the horses? He'll tell 'em to keep to the stables. Mayhap Odorin Koire, but he's a boy and short on the strength to tell a man grown to hold off his grudges."
"I'm sure Neios will behave with honor," you answer, but both of you know that alone will not necessarily save him. A man might act with honor and end up buried in the potter's field with his throat slit just the same if he did not also act with wisdom. You can hardly demand a more specific oath of him now without giving insult. Perhaps the feud will settle by the time Marcella is ready to set sail, for now you have other matters to settle.
Twenty Fourth Day of Ikomi-hamba (Ikomi Descendant) 1348 A. L. (After Landfall)
Though the weather has turned less clearer over the next few days, allowing the ground to harden into something that one can actually march on and not wade through like molasses, the training still has not been going as well as you might have hoped. Normans and Englishmen used to the weight of chain and gambeson still struggle under the weight of the bronze lined armored coats that are easier to shake off than they are to wear for any great span of time. The only bright spot among the Fellowship is Wanderer, who seems wholly untroubled by the cold and thrives even in the long grueling runs with his new armor.
"Not cold, not cold at all, easy winter," he proclaims, which earns him no friends among the rest of the company as they shiver and curse, though you do not think he means it as a boast. According to Zaia his folk, like most of the hill dwelling Knikut, hunt by wounding and then running down their prey with spears with hunting hounds at their heels.
Net-users and Spearmen Men-at-Arms at 2/4 progress in Medium Armor proficiency
Wanderer gains Light Armor proficiency [Chain Shirt Equipped]
Giving lie to your uncharitable thoughts the local guards set about their own training with a willingness that gets even Tom to offer a few silent nods in place of the usual torrent of complaints and corrections. They should be ready to, in his words, 'hold in the shieldwall and use a spear without poking their eyes out' in about ten days or so.
Koire Spearmen at 3/4 Progress in Warrior training
What do you talk with next?
[] Runs in Rain as he tries to learn how to fight as well as gain the weapons to do so
[] Zaia has spent the last several days attempting to find out more about the spirits, not those of the forest or the rivers, but of the city itself. The Tinker Court is drawn, it seems, to the diligent industry of mankind, thus Orinilu itself might be your passage into their domain.
[] Inge, as she tries to teach herself how to throw a knife
[] The strange owl, the thing has been following you for more than a moonturn by now. There has to be some reason for its strange behavior, see if you can discern it
[] Antonio as he goes to the market to pick up trade goods for the journey in the spring, perhaps you can do some buying or selling of your own
[] Esha, to learn the tongue of the city more thoroughly so as to stumble less over the words of Engur
OOC: Zaia has done most of the investigation into how to commune with the local fey, since well... he is the best suited to it and you guys do have an in with them. Still, there is no guarantee he got it right until you try and he is not about to do that without an armed escort.
It probably should be "turned clearer" or "turned less clear" here:
Debts Coming Due
Eighteenth Day of Ikomi-hamba (Ikomi Descendant) 1348 A. L. (After Landfall)
"I understand why you have not asked for a loan from the Fellowship, my lord. Admittedly, we have done much for you that others might consider charity, and accepting more merely compounds the issue. For one with a background such as yours, this must be a nearly intolerable situation." Ah, how many words have gone to the soothing of wounded pride over the years. Even as you speak the words you are reminded almost irresistibly of Silver saying 'humans brush each other's manes all the time, just not with their hands'. Thankfully you have a bit more than empty reassurance to offer. "This is why I am not going to offer you a loan. Come spring, Marcella and the men of the Fellowship will sail for Apuku once more, to fulfill a pledge to aid them in a coming battle against dark forces."
"And you wish for my aid, mine and that of my men as we were in the battle with the reavers?" Neios sounds cautious and little wonder, for that journey would not lead him towards home but away, not to mention that one man's 'dark forces' might be another's bootless errand.
"I won't ask you to endanger yourself or your guards on our mission, for you have your own path to follow," you offer reassurance. "Instead, I wish you to watch over Wayfarer's Respite, to assist those men we leave behind in guarding it from the unscrupulous who call Orinilu home, and to continue training the guardsmen serving House Koire in our absence." God and all His saints know the sorry bastards need it. You have the sinking feeling that some of them had never used a weapon in anger and even those of the Koire armsmen who had did so under someone else's watch.
"And in return for this... favor?" he asks surprised, and perhaps looking for some barb in the hook still for so great a show of trust. Truth be told every man you can scrounge up from garrison duty here is one more Fellowship soldier in the battle for Korman, and that might be the edge betwixt victory and defeat.
"For this service, when we return from our campaign among the Anwari islands, the Fellowship will reimburse you for your time and expertise, providing you the coin needed to fund your return to your homeland free of debts or favors owed. This would not be charity or even a loan, but something you have earned by the sweat of your brow and the skill of your arms. What say you, Lord Neios?"
He does not answer at once but leans back in his seat, hands on his temples as though fighting a headache. For all his attempts to hide it on the young lord's face you can read the anger of pride seeking redress warring with the demands of practicality. Thankfully, as on that distant northern shore, the latter wins.
"So do I swear upon my honor, under the light of the Thousand Gods," he vows as the stars start to kindle upon the sky outside, the words plain and few, but no less honestly meant for it.
"Three more blades to hold the walls?" Tom grunts when you give him the news later that evening as you were trying to work out if you could mix the hauling of stones and the training of men to bear heavier armor for days through.
You know that tone all too well... "But?"
"He's got a grudge in the city, doesn't he? Whose to say he wouldn't try to deal with it while he is a guest between these same walls? No offense, my lord..."
"Tom, I haven't heard you to give offense once in your live to those who did not deserve to be offended," you sigh. "Say your piece."
"Most highborn aren't as sensible 'bout matters of honor as you are, are they? If this Neios fellow, lord if you please, gets into his head that he can have his revenge by one means or another, who's going to argue him out of it? The men we leave to take care of the horses? He'll tell 'em to keep to the stables. Mayhap Odorin Koire, but he's a boy and short on the strength to tell a man grown to hold off his grudges."
"I'm sure Neios will behave with honor," you answer, but both of you know that alone will not necessarily save him. A man might act with honor and end up buried in the potter's field with his throat slit just the same if he did not also act with wisdom. You can hardly demand a more specific oath of him now without giving insult. Perhaps the feud will settle by the time Marcella is ready to set sail, for now you have other matters to settle.
***
Twenty Fourth Day of Ikomi-hamba (Ikomi Descendant) 1348 A. L. (After Landfall)
Though the weather has turned less clearer over the next few days, allowing the ground to harden into something that one can actually march on and not wade through like molasses, the training still has not been going as well as you might have hoped. Normans and Englishmen used to the weight of chain and gambeson still struggle under the weight of the bronze lined armored coats that are easier to shake off than they are to wear for any great span of time. The only bright spot among the Fellowship is Wanderer, who seems wholly untroubled by the cold and thrives even in the long grueling runs with his new armor.
"Not cold, not cold at all, easy winter," he proclaims, which earns him no friends among the rest of the company as they shiver and curse, though you do not think he means it as a boast. According to Zaia his folk, like most of the hill dwelling Knikut, hunt by wounding and then running down their prey with spears with hunting hounds at their heels.
Net-users and Spearmen Men-at-Arms at 2/4 progress in Medium Armor proficiency
Wanderer gains Light Armor proficiency [Chain Shirt Equipped]
Giving lie to your uncharitable thoughts the local guards set about their own training with a willingness that gets even Tom to offer a few silent nods in place of the usual torrent of complaints and corrections. They should be ready to, in his words, 'hold in the shieldwall and use a spear without poking their eyes out' in about ten days or so.
Koire Spearmen at 3/4 Progress in Warrior training
What do you talk with next?
[] Runs in Rain as he tries to learn how to fight as well as gain the weapons to do so
[] Zaia has spent the last several days attempting to find out more about the spirits, not those of the forest or the rivers, but of the city itself. The Tinker Court is drawn, it seems, to the diligent industry of mankind, thus Orinilu itself might be your passage into their domain.
[] Inge, as she tries to teach herself how to throw a knife
[] The strange owl, the thing has been following you for more than a moonturn by now. There has to be some reason for its strange behavior, see if you can discern it
[] Antonio as he goes to the market to pick up trade goods for the journey in the spring, perhaps you can do some buying or selling of your own
[] Esha, to learn the tongue of the city more thoroughly so as to stumble less over the words of Engur
OOC: Zaia has done most of the investigation into how to commune with the local fey, since well... he is the best suited to it and you guys do have an in with them. Still, there is no guarantee he got it right until you try and he is not about to do that without an armed escort.
- Location
- Texas
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] Runs in Rain as he tries to learn how to fight as well as gain the weapons to do so
Yeah, it was supposed to be 'turned less foul', and then I changed it to 'turned clearer' only I did not get rid of the less.
Just to explain about the curse and temple of Ashinu, going to the temple of Olweje seemed the better option at the time because Zaia off-handedly remarked that it may be something granted by Olweje, and we chose to go to the temple of Ikomi and the hunters for other reasons, curse never factored into these two actions.
Temple of Ashinu was left out, at least by me, specifically because you stated that we will have a second bunch of actions, so it will still be on the table.
And, guys, can we choose the Ashinu curse action at least as the next one, the last of our winter actions?
We need it because right now we don't have any good way of getting rid of the curse, the bad ways being, in order of decreasing badness:
1. Suicide run at CR 14 dragon somewhere in the deep north.
2. Asking Moru for his god's help, which comes with a chance of death.
3. Travelling to the Danuk land and hoping Onkushu will agree to lift the curse.
We assured our men that we'll seek a cure, and I would prefer not to go into action with our men having a curse (and especially to sail with our men having a drowning curse) if at all possible, so we very much need that Serik action.
Court of gears looks very enticing, but it's not going anywhere because we have our base near Orinilu, we'll have opportunity to investigate it at least after we'll return from Anwa islands in a few months, which we are committed to now, having agreed with Neios on the timeframe. Moreover, interacting with them would probably require us having an appropriate amount of money and resources which we are short on right now but which we'll have more when we return.
On a separate note, @DragonParadox, if we are not choosing Zaia's investigation, what would he do? If he doesn't have anything else, maybe he has the time to brew a little? Asking because:
Sure, I'll give you guys a brew vote, you are more limited by gold than time right now.
Vote closed.
Arc 11 Post 14: Bright Brass and Trusty Stone
Bright Brass and Trusty Stone
Twenty Fourth Day of Ikomi-hamba (Ikomi Descendant) 1348 A. L. (After Landfall)
Perhaps one aught not be surprised when even the riverfolk are training. There is an air of diligence all about the half-built keep, from the sound of stone chipping and carving at wood, to the clanking of bronze on steel and bronze on bronze striking, the drums that call for the midday meal and the rest of the workers, even the bubbling of clay pots set to flame in the new raised kitchen under the eye of Zuan and his hapless Anwa apprentice.
There is grain and rye in those stews and the roots kept in winter cellars, but also small game such as pot-crow and pigeon as well as the odd small rabbit that found its way into the path of an arrow or a snare, but most often what gives some savoriness to ingredients bought more with an eye to cutting costs than pleasing palettes is the fish. Caught in the sea from the deck of Marcella or upstream along the creek where the water is fresher, fish is often caught in those hours when the men, be it of the company or the laborers from the city, are not expected to work and so they are traded around the camp before they make it into the common pots.
Little wonder then that the riverfolk, swift and skilled in the water, do quite well in that trade. Even knowing all of that it is still startling to see Runs in Rain carrying one of the sailors' brass knives along his back, the weapon almost as long as he is without the tail and obviously too large to bear in one hand.
"Now that is a strange glint to see across your back, river-friend," you great him aloud.
"Not turn green like bronze or red grey like iron, see. Easier to break maybe if you give big blows, but I don't have big arms for big blows. Swift Pebble says better to stick to flint, easier to find flint, but it does not hold edge as well so I say no." He pauses and the exciting voice grows a touch more sombre. "When you cut something, someone, you want to know it cut good, not like flint."
A fair point to be making, but you cannot help but feel the weapon might be more than a bit large for him and say so.
With the by now familiar huffing laugh of his folk Runs in Rain agrees. "Yes, too big, but better than not big enough, eh?" Though he does not make the jest about the size of the tool anymore explicit, it is clear enough that he has been spending his time around sailors and soldiers. "When there will be smith maybe will make smaller knife, maybe will make four knives, eight..."
"There are only five of you though who would bear arms?" you half-ask confused.
"Maybe some want to use two knives," he replies with a small shrug that he likely picked up along with the coarse japes, the over-sized 'sword' scraping along the ground.
"Speaking of stones, have you thought of using slings?" you ask, recalling what the elders had said of the way the folk of Willowbrook fight on their own ground. Likely at least one of those who came with you knows how to fight with the weapon and they would no doubt be safer fighting from afar.
"Too hard to aim shot on moving ship-deck-wood," he grumbles. You suspect at least one of his kin had suggested that they use slings and stones as opposed to the knife he had saved up for half a season to buy.
Indeed, you later find there are two otter-kin who would prefer to fight from afar, but both Straight Tail, so named for an incident when he was young when he had raised his tail in alarm at the sight of a wolf when the sentries had missed the beast, thus saving the lives of some of his kin, and Green Branch, named for his daring climbing, want to fight not with slings, but bows, and you are not even sure if any bowyer would make a bow small enough for the otter-kin's small hands.
Antonio, ever the practical fellow, suggests teaching them how to hide and attack from ambush, where their small size and nimbleness will serve them well, whereas Zaia offers to teach them some of the more odd and esoteric skills he had picked up, at least enough to give counsel in a quandary. Who better, after all, than those who can speak only to the ears they mean to?
What will the otter-kin train in?
[] [Weapons] Write in one weapon
[] [Skills] Write in four skills for which you have at least one trainer among your company
Zaia also has plenty of time to brew over the next few days, what shall he make?
[] [Potions] Write in up to 500 gp worth of potions
OOC: There is no guarantee that all of them will be PCs, but some of them might end up as rogues or rangers and those will inherit the skills. I thought about just giving you a vote for the future builds if any of them make it that far, but that feels too inflexible and locks the otters out of organic growth and I like the little rascals too much to steal their limelight like that.
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I would like to brew simply a bunch of CLW potions, because we will go into combat, so we'll need them, and because brewing them now, when we have time, rids us of opportunity cost of brewing them later in the middle of the action while discarding other alternatives, like it was after the fight with Isele when we could study ships for info on the curse or study spells for more spells for our magic users instead.
[X] [Potions] x20 Cure Light Wounds Potions (500 gp)
[X] [Potions] x20 Cure Light Wounds Potions (500 gp)
@DragonParadox, there are 10 otter-kin in the company though?
Or is it referring to only a subset of them? Those who want to fight?
The latter, I edited it to make it clearer.
Goldfish
Friendly Spider-Fish Abomination
- Location
- Formerly of the Far Realm
What skills do they already have available, @DragonParadox?
The standard Magical Beast selection of Acrobatics, Climb, Fly, Perception, Stealth, and Swim?
The standard Magical Beast selection of Acrobatics, Climb, Fly, Perception, Stealth, and Swim?
Fly feels a little silly on a being that cannot naturally fly, so replace that with survival, but otherwise yeah.
Goldfish
Friendly Spider-Fish Abomination
- Location
- Formerly of the Far Realm
is this to determine new skills that will be available to them, or do we need to select skills like Stealth or Acrobatics, if we want them to go that route even if they already have the ability to learn them instinctively?
You do not need to pick those skills, they get all those from being hunter gatherers of the northern forests, you get to instead pick four more skills that they will be tutored in over time. In the case of them getting a class with less that 10 skills overall you will get to chose which of the total they actually have skills in.
Goldfish
Friendly Spider-Fish Abomination
- Location
- Formerly of the Far Realm
Small-sized daggers are effectively Tiny-sized short swords, so they'll be cheap and easy to source, and as Light weapons, they are considered Finesse weapons, allowing the Otter-kin to take advantage of their high Dexterity. Ranged weapons are going to be problematic for them, both in sourcing them but also simply using them. The range and damage of such weapons would be very low.
Unfortunately, we don't have anyone available to teach them some of the more iconic Rogue skills, like Disable Device or Sleight of Hand. Sense Motive leans into the Otter-kin racial bonus to the skill, Profession (Sailor) makes sense given the setting and our means of transport, Knowledge (Nature) fits them better than other Knowledge skills and is one of the more important ones in the setting, IMO, and Diplomacy is useful and valuable to know for them.
[X] [Weapons] Small-sized Bronze Daggers (i.e. Tiny-sized Short Swords)
[X] [Skills] Diplomacy, Knowledge (Nature), Profession (Sailor), Sense Motive
[X] [Potions] x20 Cure Light Wounds Potions (500 gp)
Unfortunately, we don't have anyone available to teach them some of the more iconic Rogue skills, like Disable Device or Sleight of Hand. Sense Motive leans into the Otter-kin racial bonus to the skill, Profession (Sailor) makes sense given the setting and our means of transport, Knowledge (Nature) fits them better than other Knowledge skills and is one of the more important ones in the setting, IMO, and Diplomacy is useful and valuable to know for them.
[X] [Weapons] Small-sized Bronze Daggers (i.e. Tiny-sized Short Swords)
[X] [Skills] Diplomacy, Knowledge (Nature), Profession (Sailor), Sense Motive
[X] [Potions] x20 Cure Light Wounds Potions (500 gp)
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Do you want those daggers in bronze or brass? The latter is fragile as the link shows but it is also resistant to corrosion against which mending cannot help.