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Finding the Spark (Pathfinder 1E Quest)

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Artemis1992 said:
Does Iomedae have opinions on inheritable sin?

Cause just saving a baby should be something a priest of a good goddess might wanna do anyway if not.
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Akorian for his part has no idea, this is all weird Burnlander Gods who do not seem to have any connection to the physical space these people inhabit. Inheritor? Of what? What does she give you for all th worship? He can kind of get behind Desna since she is the goddess of both travel and dreams and those things are important for all their transitive nature, but the likes of Iomedae leave his scratching his head

Mina on the other hand does have Knowledge religion, but she just crit failed it while trying to make an argument very similar to this one so that just leaves the Cat

Pepper Knowledge Religion: 1d20+5 = 23

When it comes to mortals no, but the children of fiends are a grey area since they carry the literal taint of the Lower Planes in their forms and especially in Cheliax where tieflings are common that is taken to mean 'yes inheritable sin is a thing if one of your ancestors was made of evil'.
 
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[X] Agree to escort the Halflings through Nar Voth, if...
-[X] The priest agrees to take Click. Nar Voth is difficult enough to safely travel on one's own or even with a full group of adventurers, let alone when escorting a bunch of clueless surface dwellers, but brining along a helpless and hunted infant as well is one liability too many.
-[X] And we'll need a day or two to finish an important quest before we can help them. Not to sound unsympathetic to their plight, but we've waded through blood, shit, and worse to complete it. We won't be turning back now when we're at the cusp of finishing our work. Don't mention what the quest is, nor even imply where we would be going to finish it.
-[X] With Mina translating for him, Kori finishes, "It's the best we can offer. If you accept, please take the time to secure any supplies you can manage. Travel rations, water skins, weapons, and so on. We should be back in a day or two."
 
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Adhoc vote count started by DragonParadox on Oct 15, 2023 at 2:34 AM, finished with 43 posts and 8 votes.
  • [x] Agree to try to guide the halflings through Nar Voth
    [X] Agree to escort the Halflings through Nar Voth, if...
    -[X] The priest agrees to take Click. Nar Voth is difficult enough to safely travel on one's own or even with a full group of adventurers, let alone when escorting a bunch of clueless surface dwellers, but brining along a helpless and hunted infant as well is one liability too many.
    -[X] And we'll need a day or two to finish an important quest before we can help them. Not to sound unsympathetic to their plight, but we've waded through blood, shit, and worse to complete it. We won't be turning back now when we're at the cusp of finishing our work. Don't mention what the quest is, nor even imply where we would be going to finish it.
    -[X] With Mina translating for him, Kori finishes, "It's the best we can offer. If you accept, please take the time to secure any supplies you can manage. Travel rations, water skins, weapons, and so on. We should be back in a day or two."
    [X] Agree to escort the Halflings through Nar Voth, if...
    -[X] The priest agrees to take Click. Nar Voth is difficult enough to safely travel on one's own or even with a full group of adventurers, let alone when escorting a bunch of clueless surface dwellers, but brining along a helpless and hunted infant as well is one liability too many.
    -[X] And Gorok is willing to postpone the completion of his quest once more. The decision is his, and we won't try to convince him otherwise.
    -[X] Even if Gorok can't wait any longer, we're still going to leave Click behind.
    -[X] Pepper will attempt once more to identify Click's nature, with Aid Another assistance from Mina.
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Arc 3 Post 17: A Delicate Balance
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    • A Delicate Balance ​

    23 of Arodus 4707 A.R. (Absalom Reckoning)

    As the prospect of sudden violence recedes it leaves behind uneasy dealings.

    On the one hand Father Bino has made it very clear how little he wants to care for a 'devil child' while the man under whose roof you all stand would rather that you left and 'did not darken his doorway again'. Odd turn of phrase that, assuming that light will always be found in doorways, but one supposes it is true enough when even times of darkness under the sky are as bright as the central hearth that lit the caves of Zul. Shaking off the thought you catch Gorok's eye and tip your head towards the group of hairy footed folk "What say you? Have you the time to travel to your folk and then take these ones south by the Singe Water Branch?"

    Your friend tips his head, working out the distances in his mind. Of all your company Gorok is the most skilled in dealing with both the world above and the world below, working out the distances involved. As he steps up to Iolda and looks over her shoulder at the map you are surprised she does not recoil in the least from the large, thoroughly carnivorous saurian head.

    Gorok puts a claw at the map. "Can you find your way here?" She nods, echoed by a few others in the group with a touch less confidence. He continues. "Go here, camp outside cave mouth. We meet you there, go faster overland."

    "Hmm... now I'm not in the habit of insulting folk I just met, but how do we know you'll show up for the meeting and not just leave us out there sucking our thumps like a babe in a field of thorns?"

    Slowly, maybe with as much hesitation as you have ever seen him do anything in his life, Cob raises his hand. "Cob can go with. Friends come back for Cob for sure." His voice wobbles a little on the last word.

    "Of course we will," Mina offers sympathetically, to which you and Gorok add your voices at once and even Pepper gives a meow of encouragement.

    The priest, who, you are pretty sure, had been muttering a minor spell of tongues under his breath, looks like one who had just seen a basilisk sleep peacefully in a nest of herd-beetles. "I think the last thing we need to be doing is holding hostages against each other's word with those beasts in the air hunting us, hunting the babe." You speak up, more confidently than you feel. "We will take him with us, not asking you to bear the risk of his presence until our part of the bargain is in effect."

    Mayhap it is just a dark fancy, but you can feel the distrust growing and taking root, a shadow over their eyes, so you do the one thing that seems too satisfy it, lie: "Of all of us Cob is the most skilled at dealing with the blood drinkers and Mina is the magician needed to ward our passage. Unless you wish for my company...?"

    Akorian Spellcraft: 1d20+5 = 19 (Success)
    Akorian Bluff: 1d20+12 = 27 (Success)

    In the ensuing silence your shadow undulates as though a stone was cast through unseen waters. "That will not be necessary," the sorceress says, waiting for Mina to translate as she looks back at her group. Some of the children seem disappointed, but the adults whisper grimly among themselves. Eventually they come to an agreement.

    Now it is Iolda's moment to surprise. She reaches into her bag and takes out a pouch of coin, silver and gold mixed together: "A hundred Gold Sails now, twice as many when we made it to our destination."

    What do you say?

    [] Take the gold and set their mind more at ease

    [] You'd rather see how much you can surprise and earn as much good will as you can in these strange lands

    [] Write in

    OOC: If you had failed that bluff roll it would have triggered the curse as though it had been diplomacy, but as is you managed to dodge it by means of 'Cob Stirge Hunter Extraordinaire'.
     
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    • DragonParadox said:
    OOC: If you had failed that bluff roll it would have triggred the curse as though it had been diplomacy, but as is you managed to dodge it by means of 'Cob Stringe Hunter Extraordinaire'.
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    I am not sure of the result we got. Is Cob going with them, or did we turn down the idea of hostages? Because stirges may be hunting both parties. Sure they are mostly out for the baby, but it's unlikely they will just let a group of runaway slaves do what they will, especially given that one such group will be taking the baby with them. Seems like a weird line to be arguing.

    Gold is a universal payment, but I'd rather be paid in things that we can't get through money alone, like spells/arcane knowledge (if they have any to share, although given the source of sorcerous knowledge we might be out of luck) and contacts, given they are a part of a bigger network. We will need directions and people who would deal with a party like ours.

    They may share it anyway if we leave a good impression on them, but it's best to not take this as a given. Secrecy is important to these people, and they will not break it lightly if they can help it.
     
    Nevill said:
    I am not sure of the result we got. Is Cob going with them, or did we turn down the idea of hostages? Because stirges may be hunting both parties. Sure they are mostly out for the baby, but it's unlikely they will just let a group of runaway slaves do what they will, especially given that one such group will be taking the baby with them. Seems like a weird line to be arguing.

    Gold is a universal payment, but I'd rather be paid in things that we can't get through money alone, like spells/arcane knowledge (if they have any to share, although given the source of sorcerous knowledge we might be out of luck) and contacts, given they are a part of a bigger network. We will need directions and people who would deal with a party like ours.

    They may share it anyway if we leave a good impression on them, but it's best to not take this as a given. Secrecy is important to these people, and they will not break it lightly if they can help it.
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    No one is going with them, Akorian convinced them that Cob is the stringe killer, they need Mina for her magic and that left only his creepy self as a potential hostage which they refused so they defaulted to trying to pay you to come back once you visit Gorok's tribe.
     
    Alright, so.

    Are they capable and willing to teach us some of the spells we saw them use? Like the minituarization spell, if that's what it was?
    Are they willing to give us contacts in Bellflower Network? Not right now, but after we are done, perhaps.

    Showing interest in that information is somewhat of a guarantee we'll be back to collect it.

    As a player, I want our party to (eventually) be moving in the direction of one of the points of interest discovered in Echo of the Ancients. Shelter locations, distress beacons etc. I want any help we can get in getting there. We've got the coordinates, but no real frame of reference to use them on. So I want a map of the territories involved, and people who may be helpful in navigating these territories.

    It's fine if the slaves don't know the exact details, so long as we can establish that, say, the Menador Mountains are to the east of Cheliax, and here are the people and organizations that may be of use to us getting there.
     
    Nevill said:
    Alright, so.

    Are they capable and willing to teach us some of the spells we saw them use? Like the minituarization spell, if that's what it was?
    Are they willing to give us contacts in Bellflower Network? Not right now, but after we are done, perhaps.

    Showing interest in that information is somewhat of a guarantee we'll be back to collect it.

    As a player, I want our party to (eventually) be moving in the direction of one of the points of interest discovered in Echo of the Ancients. Shelter locations, distress beacons etc. I want any help we can get in getting there. We've got the coordinates, but no real frame of reference to use them on. So I want a map of the territories involved, and people who may be helpful in navigating these territories.

    It's fine if the slaves don't know the exact details, so long as we can establish that, say, the Menador Mountains are to the east of Cheliax, and here are the people and organizations that may be of use to us getting there.
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    That is certainly something you could ask them about. Iolda looks like some kind of arcane caster at least (no holy symbols).
     
    [x] We'd rather be paid in spells and information; they are more useful to us in these lands, and you'll need the money in Andoran.
     
    This is working out well so far. I'm glad we came to a solution that lets us complete Gorok's quest before returning to Nar Voth to escort these folks. That opens up the possibility of us going with them to Andoran, if the ship they're scheduled to meet has room for us and is willing to take us. If we're going to stay on the surface, we really do need to get out of Cheliax ASAP, IMO.

    As for taking payment for our services, I would prefer to wave any monetary reward just yet in favor of building good will and trust. Unfortunately, however, we need to take into account adventurer culture and the land we're in. Also that we're a party of non-Humans (and not any of the particularly PR-friendly races, either). Adventurers and mercenaries get paid for their time and the work they do. It's expected and normal, so taking the upfront payment really should help to set their minds at ease and convince them that we're both more trustworthy and less likely to flake out or snitch on them.

    And once we get them to their destination, we can refuse to take the rest of the payment. That might help to further ingratiate ourselves to them and make it easier to get passage on the ship to Andoran. Or we could ask them to pay the transport fee for us?

    [X] Take the gold and set their mind more at ease

    DragonParadox said:
    [] You'd ra ther see hom much you can surprise and earn as much good will as you can in these strange lands
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    Couple typos in that one you might want to fix.
    Nevill said:
    Are they capable and willing to teach us some of the spells we saw them use? Like the minituarization spell, if that's what it was?
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    The only one in our party who can learn spells from an instructor or scrolls is Mina, and that's not something you can do while trekking through the Darklands. It takes time and peace to study, neither of which will be available on the trip.

    Also, Reduce Person: Mass, which I assume the caster was using, is a 4th level spell (and not one on the Witch spell list). If that's the case, the caster is 7th level at a minimum. Great for us, since she'll likely have at least a couple good combat spells to use if we run into trouble, but also something well outside our level for quite some time to come.
     
    Goldfish said:
    The only one in our party who can learn spells from an instructor or scrolls is Mina, and that's not something you can do while trekking through the Darklands. It takes time and peace to study, neither of which will be available on the trip.
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    They are not going to be running 24x7. If a rest is enough to memorize spells, it's enough to learn them.

    Moreover, it's for Iolda to decide. Spells are my preferred payment. If she can't teach us, I'd rather hear her say it than decide out of hand that she can't.

    A 7th level caster is likely to have a bigger assortment of lower-level spells, allowing us to choose what we want to be learning in the limited time we have.
     
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    [X] Take the gold and set their mind more at ease

    Ironically, taking their gold now will likely make more sense to them since they are used to adventurers working like that.

    Cob coming through once more! He really is the MVP of party!
     
    Arc 3 Post 18: Those Who Linger
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    • Those Who Linger ​

    23 of Arodus 4707 A.R. (Absalom Reckoning)

    After a moment of thought you judge that it would probably be best to have some tie to the company of hair-foots... no, halflings, that is what they were called. Half of what you, wonder, coin now added to the small bag tucked between the myriad of small skins and furs Gorok cured on the journey here. For her part Mina pats Warty gingerly as you get along your way, though whether she's seeking comfort in the act or just wants to avoid bursting any of the pustules for which he was named after you could not say. Regardless, the path along the banks of a stream sheathed in rustling stalks, reed, rush and yellow flag, the names blur together in your mind, is much to the slurk's liking, though now and then he throws his eyes upwards, following your example.

    Throughout the first leg of the journey that takes you well past midday there is no sign of buzzing wings, nor really of anyone from the town in this patch of woodland. The last is odd as it is fortuitous as you pass cold ashes ringed with stones, stumps still clinging to the moist earth with the axe marks fresh enough to bleed. Gorok admits he had not expected the path this way to be so smooth and wonders what could have spooked the warmbloods. No magic gleams under the leaves dripping with moisture, no rustle of unseen watchers.

    The woodcutters do not appear to have left in any hurry or in fear of their lives had they done if the iruxi decided to attack the camps, they simply aren't here.

    "This place reminds me of those goblins," Mina whispers unnerved, a reminder you did not need. But no, things are still chirping, croaking, creaking and rustling, just not with any intelligent intent. It looks to all the world as if the folk of Longacre had grown tired of their labors and... left.

    "Did you hear anything about this from the gate guard?" you ask Mina. Alas she has no answer, all she wanted to do was see Click to his new home.

    Speaking of the babe, he is less clicking and more gurgling and chattering, trying to form words maybe, though he is mostly punching the air cheerfully as you pass between the trees. Is there something there, you wonder suddenly and look below the surface of the world. Stretched out like a great spider's web between two old oaks is a spell... if spell it might be called, too fragile to do anything save maybe give one a shudder down the spine. A child's will could overpower it. Then, as you look to your left and then to your right, you realize this thing wraps around the perimeter of the woods as far as you can see.
    Akorian perception: 1d20+7 = 17 (Success)

    Raising a hand for the others to stop you ask Gorok what is past those trees, to which he explains that it is the old boundary of his tribe's territory, though they have not ranged that far since before he was hatched, mostly keeping to the deep mires. Intrigued and not a little weary he starts looking for the markers in trees and rocks that used to set the old boundary. He finds one and sure enough it is the source of the strange ward which seems to have no power beside making the hairs rise on the back of one's neck .

    Gorok Perception: 1d20+9 = 21 (Success)

    "Maybe they found guard magic?" Cob asks optimistically, though with one ear turned to the sky. "If they found strong magic maybe we should go in hooting-hollering, loud so they know we aren't enemy."

    "That would draw the enemy to us." Gorok shakes his head and starts to press on when Mina notices some odd markings on the stone, script you are sure and of a kind finer than could be done with iruxi claws. Alas, neither she nor her feline familiar can puzzle out their meaning for which Pepper does give them a reproachful swat of his paw.

    Knowledge (Religion): (Mina, Pepper): 17, 8 (Failure)

    Perhaps a third of a bell in the guards finally find you, a pair of smooth-hided lizardfolk, still unblooded... wearing better leathers than Gorok had been when you met him and wielding spears of steel. A short conversation follows with far too much snapping of jaws after which Gorok turns back to you and Cob to translate: "He's asking if we raided the warmbloods. I said no and that I with to speak to the elders. Good lookout, has good strong eyes, can read my scars."


    What do you do?

    [] Play the ignorant stranger, ask the young guards what has changed in Gorok's absence, the fortunes of the tribe seem to have improved certainly

    [] Wait to meet the elders before asking questions as is proper

    [] Write in

    OOC: Enjoy.
     
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    • Oh, thank you for the chapter.

    My first impulse is let Mina ask questions because I think it'l be Diplomacy check. Also, Kori does not know language, and Cob is... Cob.
     
    If it would be a faux pass to ask questions... maybe we should simply follow along. It is Gorok's tribe. They won't do anything to him or to us I think.
     
    Uh oh, I have a bad feeling about this.

    Restored tribal boundaries, no nearby Humans, unusually good quality armor and new steel weaponry, despite being within Cheliax, a notoriously humanocentric (and Devil-adjacent) nation...

    I worry that Gorok's tribe is under new management, perhaps of a diabolical nature, or they have formed a subordinate alliance of some sort with either the local nobility or Devil(s).

    Asking outright about what has been happening could work, but it might not and it could even seem suspicious. How about we do it the sneaky way instead?

    [X] Ask Gorok to speak with the guards, not to ask them questions of what has transpired in his absence, but rather to get them thinking about the tribe and it's current state. Kori will use his headband to attempt to read their surface thoughts as Gorok prompts them.
     
    Failing Knowledge checks while we are in Cheliax is like failing perception checks in a dungeon trapped up the gills; you don't know what it is about but it makes you uneasy all the same.

    Tomcost said:
    They won't do anything to him or to us I think.
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    Looking back...
    DragonParadox said:
    Gorok's forked tongue lashes briefly at his lipless mouth. "My tribe, the Red Crests has little love of warm-bloods and I do not think it would be wise to gain the favor of the elders the same way we did for the Xulgath."

    "No, of course..." you start to answer filled with sincere thought, before you realize, guess more like, that it had been said in jest. "I take it you do not like the elders you left behind."

    "If I thought they did only wise things and none that were foolish I would have stayed, followed their word and hunted the mire."
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    As warmbloods, we have no protections save Gorok's word, so it will depend on the elders' disposition towards him.

    Not certain we should get Click inside without assuring some measure of safety.

    [x] Ask Gorok to speak with the guards, not to ask them questions of what has transpired in his absence, but rather to get them thinking about the tribe and it's current state. Kori will use his headband to attempt to read their surface thoughts as Gorok prompts them.
     
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