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Age of Ice and Blood: A Pathfinder System Heroic Fantasy Quest

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Snowfire said:
Also they go to the home base
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Unless it will be safer for them to travel with Roland and company due to prejudice against changelings and skin-changers.

Shine said:
I promise, unlike Myrix, I'm not planning to use them as scouts. I just think the safety or educational advantages of sailing with us are worth hauling them along.
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I'm not planning to use them as scouts, all I'm thinking of is that they might work as much as children of their age are expected to work in the society the company is in right now and in the society Roland grew up with.

And if in several years the eldest ones will express preference for something else, I won't deny them that, it would be excessive coddling.

Goldfish said:
It really isn't. Young children are a handful to deal with in the best of circumstances. They require near constant supervision and guidance. Marcella is not a floating daycare center. Are we going to hire a nanny to sail with us now to look after the Changelings? They're kids, and even well-behaved kids are generally awful. We'll have to worry about them going overboard, climbing the rigging because they're bored, getting kicked in the head by a horse because they were too curious, messing with Alchemical stuff Zaia and Inge are brewing, etc, etc, etc. They need a stable environment and we cannot give them that at sea. We can, however, make sure they're comfortable and well cared for at Wayfarer's Respite.
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All right, if you think so, though I really don't understand why they would actually have to have "constant supervision and guidance". Hire a nanny? I understand that that's rhetoric, but all the same it's absurd. The girl Ooloa in her interlude shows that she is perfectly capable of taking care of herself, she handles herself fine, and that with a community set against her and her mother not caring for her as much as she should.

And the youngest (Ooloa is one of the eldest, she refers to others as "her younger siblings") are more mature then their years indicate because, as Esha puts it,
DragonParadox said:
"They are not so young and if they survived whatever their father thinks was appropriate..."
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We do not have to worry about them as much as it seems to me you think we have, please don't discount all this evidence that, though they are children, they are not helpless children that will require constant care and supervision.

Again, they are more mature then their ages might indicate, and in the society the company is in now, the society Roland grew up in and the society they grew up in it's not expected to have such high level of supervision for children their age, and the eldest of them would be expected to do some work, just as Ooloa was expected to do some work with the fish to help with her and her mother's living, like her interlude indicates.

Like, for example, how is the girl more likely to get herself killed staying on Marcella then she was staying at her village where she was hated and beaten? And if she would not want to stay at Wayfarer's Respite and instead stay by Roland's side, are you going to force her?

If you are worried about them running around and causing problems, giving them some work or apprenticeships according to their aptitudes is exactly what we should try to do, not just throw our hands in the air and go, "ugh, we just can't do it, can't have them with us even if it would be safer for them that way".

@Goldfish, at least please don't make such a definite judgement now, don't say with such certainty "your new home is a keep we call Wayfarer's Respite", didn't you yourself said "Give it a bit of time, at the very least."? I'm not opposed to it categorically, they should stay where it's best for them, and if that's Wayfarer's Respite then so be it, but why just decide it like that with 100% certainty now when we haven't even exchanged more than 10 words with them?
 
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The current conflict between the Ocean Fey and the Formless makes having Changeling children on board a terrible idea imo.

[X] Goldfish
 
silvanknight said:
The current conflict between the Ocean Fey and the Formless makes having Changeling children on board a terrible idea imo.
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It would be if we were directly involved in it and if the Ocean Fey and the Formless would be these two monolitic factions, but it is not so.

We are staying clear of the Oceanid's business, and there is no relation between the whatever Formless are aggravating her and even the naunet we got children form, much less children themselves.

It's like saying that if we have conflict with some fey, e.g. those aligned with dragonspawn and therefore set against us, then we have a conflict with all the fey everywhere, including any of their possible half-human offspring.
 
myrix said:
Unless it will be safer for them to travel with Roland and company due to prejudice against changelings and skin-changers.


I'm not planning to use them as scouts, all I'm thinking of is that they might work as much as children of their age are expected to work in the society the company is in right now and in the society Roland grew up with.

And if in several years the eldest ones will express preference for something else, I won't deny them that, it would be excessive coddling.


All right, if you think so, though I really don't understand why they would actually have to have "constant supervision and guidance". Hire a nanny? I understand that that's rhetoric, but all the same it's absurd. The girl Ooloa in her interlude shows that she is perfectly capable of taking care of herself, she handles herself fine, and that with a community set against her and her mother not caring for her as much as she should.

And the youngest (Ooloa is one of the eldest, she refers to others as "her younger siblings") are more mature then their years indicate because, as Esha puts it,


We do not have to worry about them as much as it seems to me you think we have, please don't discount all this evidence that, though they are children, they are not helpless children that will require constant care and supervision.

Again, they are more mature then their ages might indicate, and in the society the company is in now, the society Roland grew up in and the society they grew up in it's not expected to have such high level of supervision for children their age, and the eldest of them would be expected to do some work, just as Ooloa was expected to do some work with the fish to help with her and her mother's living, like her interlude indicates.

Like, for example, how is the girl more likely to get herself killed staying on Marcella then she was staying at her village where she was hated and beaten? And if she would not want to stay at Wayfarer's Respite and instead stay by Roland's side, are you going to force her?

If you are worried about them running around and causing problems, giving them some work or apprenticeships according to their aptitudes is exactly what we should try to do, not just through our hands in the air and go, "ugh, we just can't do it, can't have them with us even if it would be safer for them that way".

@Goldfish, at least please don't make such a definite judgement now, don't say with such certainty "your new home is a keep we call Wayfarer's Respite", didn't you yourself said "Give it a bit of time, at the very least."? I'm not opposed to it categorically, they should stay where it's best for them, and if that's Wayfarer's Respite then so be it, but why just decide it like that with 100% certainty now when we haven't even exchanged more than 10 words with them?
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Ooloa may very well be able to live aboard Marcella without causing issues, and if she does prove it, I won't argue against her coming with us. That's not necessarily the same for the rest of the children. It's highly unlikely, even if they're somewhat more mature for their ages. Even if they aren't helpless, that doesn't mean they have any business being at sea with us. Like I mentioned to Shine, a good part of the reason I don't want them on Marcella long-term is because they'll always be around, they'll always be involved in shit, chapters will be spent dealing with child-related drama or annoyances rather than on adventure, combat, trade, etc. Basically, I will vote to leave them with strangers and hope nothing bad happens to them before I vote to bring more than one of them with us long-term, and even one is already pushing buttons in my head.

As for the plan, I didn't have any problem with seeing them taken care of at Wayfarer's Respite. The responsibility isn't the issue, it's the setting and thought of constantly having them underfoot and getting involved in stuff they have no business intruding upon, i.e. the quest.

How's this?

[X] Kneel before the children to look them in the eye and answer, "No, little one, that honor belongs to another. My name is Roland. Your father entrusted you and your siblings into my care, for he knows he is not well suited to such a task but wishes the best for each of you."
-[X] With a smile, Roland continues, "We have many weeks of sailing ahead of us, so there will have plenty of time to learn about one another. Why don't we start with your names?"
 
Goldfish said:
Ooloa may very well be able to live aboard Marcella without causing issues, and if she does prove it, I won't argue against her coming with us. That's not necessarily the same for the rest of the children. It's highly unlikely, even if they're somewhat more mature for their ages. Even if they aren't helpless, that doesn't mean they have any business being at sea with us. Like I mentioned to Shine, a good part of the reason I don't want them on Marcella long-term is because they'll always be around, they'll always be involved in shit, chapters will be spent dealing with child-related drama or annoyances rather than on adventure, combat, trade, etc. Basically, I will vote to leave them with strangers and hope nothing bad happens to them before I vote to bring more than one of them with us long-term, and even one is already pushing buttons in my head.

As for the plan, I didn't have any problem with seeing them taken care of at Wayfarer's Respite. The responsibility isn't the issue, it's the setting and thought of constantly having them underfoot and getting involved in stuff they have no business intruding upon, i.e. the quest.

How's this?

[X] Kneel before the children to look them in the eye and answer, "No, little one, that honor belongs to another. My name is Roland. Your father entrusted you and your siblings into my care, for he knows he is not well suited to such a task but wishes the best for each of you."
-[X] With a smile, Roland continues, "We have many weeks of sailing ahead of us, so there will have plenty of time to learn about one another. Why don't we start with your names?"
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That's fair, the personal preference for having them as less as possible in the quest is the ultimate argument, apologies if I aggravated you excessively with my arguing.

I don't have such aversion to them being more active part of narrative, because I believe DP will make it engaging and interesting, and practically it won't make much difference to the Fellowship's affairs. IIRC DP mentioned before, even IC in the update if I'm not mistaken, a possibility for Roland to take a squire, so he has at least thought of a possibility of having younger characters in the quest besides Inge.

Current vote is fine, though I'll still leave mine for Snowfire's suggestion just for the sake of the argument, as I still believe it will be more beneficial for us to start trying to build closer connection with them right away.

[X] "Not of blood nor bone, child, but other ways perhaps. Your true father entrusted you all to my care, for he recognises his nature as ill-suited to bringing you happiness. So I give you my word that I shall do all I might to help you find that simple thing."
-[X] "If that makes me a father, I suppose it is up to you. But for now, it is my very fine pleasure to meet you, and I ask you to call me Roland."
 
Goldfish said:
You can practically feel the parental concern dripping off of this dude, right? /sarcasm
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Honestly do not see Roland letting these kids go. Too likely for their powers to get abused, imo. Point on my language, I'm sleepy and I go silly verbose when so. I can see your vote being more acceptable with the addition of what's essentially "Let's find out."

Ping me if you need help down the line.
 
On another and hopefully better note, just wanted to thank you for such fine another piece of Roland-Esha characterization in the previous update, @DragonParadox, doubly pleasant because it's so well-written and because I'm all in for Sword & Sorcery OTP. ;)
 
Vote closed, let's see how this goes.
Adhoc vote count started by DragonParadox on Jun 28, 2022 at 10:32 AM, finished with 47 posts and 8 votes.
  • [X] Kneel before the children to look them in the eye and answer, "No, little one, that honor belongs to another. My name is Roland. Your father entrusted you and your siblings into my care, for he knows he is not well suited to such a task but wishes the best for each of you."
    -[X] With a smile, Roland continues, "We have many weeks of sailing ahead of us, so there will have plenty of time to learn about one another. Why don't we start with your names?"
    [X] "Not of blood nor bone, child, but other ways perhaps. Your true father entrusted you all to my care, for he recognises his nature as ill-suited to bringing you happiness. So I give you my word that I shall do all I might to help you find that simple thing."
    -[X] "If that makes me a father, I suppose it is up to you. But for now, it is my very fine pleasure to meet you, and I ask you to call me Roland."
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Arc 15 Post 6: A Kinder Face
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    • A Kinder Face ​

    Tenth Day of Olweje-eza (Olweje Ascendant), 1349 A. L. (After Landfall)

    There are certain moments in a man's life when the dictates of good sense which some claim are seated in the gut, run wholly counter to those of honor: the sight of home vanishing over the horizon for the first time, the din of the first battle drawing close, the first time one if asked to judge the sharpness of a sword or the quality of a horse to name but three. To that number you would add a dirty sunburned child reaching her hands out and towards you and asking if you are her father...

    What are you meant to say? That her father is likely the dark ship in the water darting away on a strange errand having fulfilled his obligations by his lights by leaving them all in the company of strangers? Taking a deep breath an praying to Saint Nicholas who in addition to sailors and wanderers is said to have a special place in his heart for children you answer as honestly and kindly as you know how: "No, little one, that honor belongs to another. My name is Roland. Your father entrusted you and your siblings into my care, for he knows he is not well suited to such a task but wishes the best for each of you."

    As you pick up the child who had suddenly gone still you hear Antonio sigh in relief behind you. The children will be none of his affair and you have no doubt he will not hesitate to relay any misbehavior to you.

    "There you are..." you say as you continue to help the children off their raft, adding in more small words of reassurance that they are welcome and fussing over their weight as you recall your mother doing for you when you were young by way of that you hope will be familiar and comforting.

    "S'all right, we don't eat much promise," one boy says looking at Zaia of all people as though he was expecting a blow. You will certainly believe he does not eat much, on account of him being small and thin for the ages the spirit had given. Somehow you doubt it had been voluntary on his part.

    Meanwhile the first child you took out of the raft and clearly the eldest had found Inge and after a moment's just standing and watching the other girl she turned into a living mirror of her, expecting... something.

    "I'm not like yer lot, I have my own magic though," Inge says bobbing up a light from her hand with a word of prayer. Ooloa seems relieved... but one of the younger boys, the last to come off the raft and that reluctantly starts to cry.

    "Don't wanna die! I'll be good, I'll be good I promise!"

    Poor Inge flinches back at the sight, looking helpless as you have not even seen her in battle. "What'd I do?"

    Thankfully that is when one of the otter kin slinks slowly next to the child, his head at about the right height to pet and his mind obviously sending something reassuring. The boy's panicked crying fades into sniffles as the faintly horrified otter-kin explains that a priest of Ikomi had tried to 'kill the bad blood in him' which had left him in a nightmare-wracked sleep for days just before the raft had come for him.

    Inge mumbles something that sounds like: "I aught to send him to the halls," and you cannot bring yourself to disagree, though once the children are attentive again, or at least as attentive as their tender years allow you continue: "We have many weeks of sailing ahead of us, so there will have plenty of time to learn about one another. Why don't we start with your names?"

    Tell you their names they do: Ooloa, Leni, Unki Iles and... Kasibo. You almost flinch at the last, the name of the crying boy which means something like 'mockery' or else 'rotten fruit' in Anwari, an insult and certainly no name for a child, yet none of the other children seen to find it strange and the boy is only five. Could you change his name without confusing him?

    Zaia obviously guesses your thoughts for he leans close and whispers: "Leave it be for now at least until they have had a warm meal in them and a night's sleep."

    You are inclined to listen to his judgement but once they wake someone will have to see to their needs and it cannot just be you. Like as not you will be in the city then, dealing with the affairs of kings, perhaps even of trade and of recruitment.

    Who is to take care of your new wards on the journey?

    [] Swift Pebble and the rest of her people, they seem to be easily trusted by children and their mind speech conveys sincerity in a way words cannot (lowers the readiness of your sentries)

    [] Tom and those of the company who have taken care of children before, caring for children, be they sons and daughters, brothers and sisters or even just cousins is common enough that even in a gathering of soldiers you should find some who know the way of it (soldiers are less able to help with the rowing or other tasks around the ship)

    [] Write in

    OOC: Being a shapeshifter in a culture that sees such beings as inherently dangerous at best and spies of inhuman masters at worst is not a pleasant life, all these kids are going to have some degree of trauma. Since someone has to watch them at all times, at least at first, who you choose will have an impact.
     
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    • Daw...poor kiddos. Glad to see Inge at least took getting reflected in stride. Also lets go full fantasy here lol. Changling kids looked after with a telepathic otter.

    [X] Swift Pebble and the rest of her people, they seem to be easily trusted by children and their mind speech conveys sincerity in a way words cannot (lowers the readiness of your sentries)
     
    @DragonParadox, there is an inconsistency with the previous updates:
    DragonParadox said:
    and the boy is only five.
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    DragonParadox said:
    Youngest is seven and a bit, oldest is ten...
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    Unless it's because the naunet lied to us?

    ---

    [X] Swift Pebble and the rest of her people, they seem to be easily trusted by children and their mind speech conveys sincerity in a way words cannot (lowers the readiness of your sentries)

    We got by without otter-kin sentries before, reducing their help as sentries is not so large an issue, and we have to care for the kids.
     
    [X] Swift Pebble and the rest of her people, they seem to be easily trusted by children and their mind speech conveys sincerity in a way words cannot (lowers the readiness of your sentries)
     
    DragonParadox said:
    OOC: Being a shapeshifter in a culture that sees such beings as inherently dangerous at best and spies of inhuman masters at worst is not a pleasant life, all these kids are going to have some degree of trauma. Since someone has to watch them at all times at least at first who you choose will have an impact. Not yet edited.
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    What can Esha tell us about how Changelings are likely to be treated in the lands she is familiar with?
    DragonParadox said:
    Not quite, the thing is he had been taking shapes that look younger than he really is because he found that made him less likely to be hurt.
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    :cry2:

    You can do it, Swift Pebble!

    [X] Swift Pebble and the rest of her people, they seem to be easily trusted by children and their mind speech conveys sincerity in a way words cannot (lowers the readiness of your sentries)
     
    Goldfish said:
    What can Esha tell us about how Changelings are likely to be treated in the lands she is familiar with?
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    Most places in the world see unsanctioned magic, that is magic they do not know the origin of, with suspicion. Shapeshifters are also scary because they cause paranoia as you guys have seen of late with all the illusions and false seemings. It's not as bad as the Anwa because they to not have as much contact with the undersea civilizations of the Atlantic.
     
    [X] Swift Pebble and the rest of her people, they seem to be easily trusted by children and their mind speech conveys sincerity in a way words cannot (lowers the readiness of your sentries)
     
    A_Somebody said:
    Daw...poor kiddos. Glad to see Inge at least took getting reflected in stride. Also lets go full fantasy here lol. Changling kids looked after with a telepathic otter.

    [X] Swift Pebble and the rest of her people, they seem to be easily trusted by children and their mind speech conveys sincerity in a way words cannot (lowers the readiness of your sentries)
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    Inge is a magician, she thinks getting reflected is cool and wishes she had the ability. The reason ordinary people are freaked out by it is that they have no real way to see though it, it is paranoia fuel. On the other hand Inge can see the aura of the magic, just as she could for the proteam. Of course if you were the sort of death priest to see the formless as a blasphemy against the will of Ikomi.... well you might try to exorcise the evil blood out of them... with the results seem above.
     
    [X] Swift Pebble and the rest of her people, they seem to be easily trusted by children and their mind speech conveys sincerity in a way words cannot (lowers the readiness of your sentries)
     
    @DragonParadox, a question regarding recognizing Doppelgangers and the Formless.

    In the recent chapter Inge recognized Change Shape (Polymorph) of the Naunet with her Detect Magic; does that mean that if we would have asked her to check Almun Iranea when we first met him, with him looking like this,
    DragonParadox said:
    The eyes that turn upon you with shock are bright blue, but hallowed by a corona of blood red, as though he had not slept for days. His face is pale and not in that natural manner than might show merely an aversion to the sun, but yellowing like old parchment and somehow... thin, as though there was something beneath waiting to burst forth. From some forgotten corner of your childhood rises the memory of watching a overstuffed caterpillar twitch and writhe only to burst forth into a mess of innards and a gleaming black wasp.
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    in the same way with Detect Magic, she would have recognized his Change Shape (Alter Self)?

    And the same with doppelgangared Onogu Iranea when we have seen him in Lirman's court several times?

    If, as I assume, the answer is yes, why have been Ohun surprised when we told him about Onogu Iranea hijacking,
    DragonParadox said:
    Thus you give your account in full from the cat to the calling of the spirit and even the words it had spoken through Inge and what you suspect it might have meant too; another foe, another hidden danger, this one from the sea. The more you speak the darker Ohun's expression is until at last it is a bleak as weather-worn stone and just as shattered.
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    if the Anwa are so paranoid about shape-shifters, shouldn't he check the people closest to the King and the court in general with his Detect Magic from time to time?
     
    Inge does not walk around with detect magic on all the time and the spell is still a cantrip, which means that basically any spell that hides auras works against it, not something a naunet who was shape-changing on a lark would do, but if you had preped an infiltration you would pretty much need a way to project a false aura.
     
    DragonParadox said:
    Inge does not walk around with detect magic on all the time and the spell is still a cantrip, which means that basically any spell that hides auras works against it, not something a naunet who was shape-changing on a lark would do, but if you had preped an infiltration you would pretty much need a way to project a false aura.
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    Can we just in case as a standing policy ask Inge (and Esha, when she has it prepared) to use Detect Magic from time to time on anything which might be of importance to us, like new hires, things we get from other people, people/creatures we directly interact with? Or at least as frequently as they would find appropriate?
     
    myrix said:
    Can we just in case as a standing policy ask Inge (and Esha, when she has it prepared) to use Detect Magic from time to time on anything which might be of importance to us, like new hires, things we get from other people, people/creatures we directly interact with? Or at least as frequently as they would find appropriate?
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    Detect magic does not have to be prepared, it is a cantrip and can be used at will, that said it is a concentration spell, which means it requires mental focus roughly equivalent to say writing a letter or holding a mildly complex tune to keep active. They can do it for things like new hires and arrivals in parts etc...
     
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