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Finding the Spark (Pathfinder 1E Quest)

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DragonParadox said:
After returning from the temple no one but Cob is in a mood to explore and he is soon distracted by the self-explanatory game of boot-beer.
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View: https://youtu.be/W6hr-o6JiWs?si=uMkX7riEmhEYDdTO

I hope it was a dedicated drinking boot and not some random patron's footwear...

I don't like the idea of paying bribes, especially when it sets a bad precedent for them to try to extort us further on later crossings. If it's not too much, though, it might be worth it to avoid a hassle.

@DragonParadox, how much money are we talking about here?
 
Goldfish said:

View: https://youtu.be/W6hr-o6JiWs?si=uMkX7riEmhEYDdTO

I hope it was a dedicated drinking boot and not some random patron's footwear...

I don't like the idea of paying bribes, especially when it sets a bad precedent for them to try to extort us further on later crossings. If it's not too much, though, it might be worth it to avoid a hassle.

@DragonParadox, how much money are we talking about here?
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Oh it was random footwear in ascending order of ripeness, that is why there is a fortitude save in there. :V

Sirim is not sure, he does not know the going rates around here, but on the order of 5-25 gp sounds about what he would ask for if he were a corrupt guard. Take that as you will.
 
[X] Try to bluff your way past
-[X] "If you want a bribe, take it up with the Pathfinder who hired us."
 
Goldfish said:
[X] Try to bluff your way past
-[X] "If you want a bribe, take it up with the Pathfinder who hired us."
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Corrupt officials usually take ofense at you pointing out that they are corrupt.

[X] Try to bluff your way past
-[X] Show off Sirim's identification. "I am afraid that we are in official duty for the Pathfinders, and that they would not like to be delayed. Would you mind solving this business with them?"
 
DragonParadox said:
The level 12 wizard is probably some kind of official or noble or has friends in the city. He would be known.

A bunch of people fresh off the boat and lodging in the worst part of town, are 'just' adventurers which means an easy target to shake down for bribes.
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That doesn't work in a world where people like Elminster run around playing harmless old man, where every inkeeper might be a retired fighter.

This is a world where the local equivalent of Odin might actually be a grey-clad wanderer asking for shelter.

And even if the level 4 party is really a level 4 party, how do you know they won't be famous level 12 adventurers and friends with the local lord next year?

And that's not even getting into the fact that Hell is real and you, as someone not destined for great adventures and blessed with powerful allies, might actually go there for extorting travellers, with no ticket back.
 
Artemis1992 said:
That doesn't work in a world where people like Elminster run around playing harmless old man, where every inkeeper might be a retired fighter.

This is a world where the local equivalent of Odin might actually be a grey-clad wanderer asking for shelter.

And even if the level 4 party is really a level 4 party, how do you know they won't be famous level 12 adventurers and friends with the local lord next year?

And that's not even getting into the fact that Hell is real and you, as someone not destined for great adventures and blessed with powerful allies, might actually go there for extorting travellers, with no ticket back.
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There are a lot of stupid people in the world.

And a lot of them are greedy on top of being stupid.

Poor behavior doesn't surprise me in the slightest.
 
Artemis1992 said:
That doesn't work in a world where people like Elminster run around playing harmless old man, where every inkeeper might be a retired fighter.

This is a world where the local equivalent of Odin might actually be a grey-clad wanderer asking for shelter.

And even if the level 4 party is really a level 4 party, how do you know they won't be famous level 12 adventurers and friends with the local lord next year?

And that's not even getting into the fact that Hell is real and you, as someone not destined for great adventures and blessed with powerful allies, might actually go there for extorting travellers, with no ticket back.
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The odds of meeting a mythic wizard are small enough to be comparable to the odds of meeting a disguised celestial testing your virtue. At that point most people shrug and go with it.

Most adventurers do not go from 4 to 12 in a year i.e. they are not PCs, the Pathfinder Society's foremost public members are around level 12 for instance.
 
Oh, I missed the vote again. Well, my bad. It's onlly me to blame. Was too distracted in Genshin Impact.

[X] Pay the bribe, it can't be that bad and you are going to have to pass by their post many times over
DragonParadox said:
i.e. they are not PCs
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What does it mean? It means that most people have NPC-classes, or that they receive XP in much slowly rate? Or that adventurares career is very dangerous?
 
Goldfish said:
There are a lot of stupid people in the world.

And a lot of them are greedy on top of being stupid.

Poor behavior doesn't surprise me in the slightest.
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I don't think I'll ever really get that.

I'd never take bribes just because it means a chance of loosing my nice and stable job and possibly getting in legal trouble.

I can't understand that people would not only risk their job but their actual life for a bit extra money.
 
Artemis1992 said:
I don't think I'll ever really get that.

I'd never take bribes just because it means a chance of loosing my nice and stable job and possibly getting in legal trouble.

I can't understand that people would not only risk their job but their actual life for a bit extra money.
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Right there with you, dude.

Too bad everyone isn't so sensible, else the world would be a much different place.
 
Arhin said:
What does it mean? It means that most people have NPC-classes, or that they receive XP in much slowly rate? Or that adventurares career is very dangerous?
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The latter two. While in Golarion during the Age of Lost Omens four people can be fighting goblins one day and a year later taking on the level 20 Runelord of Greed it is not a common occurrence. For the most part if you are take years to gain that power. Also of course for those people who do have the potential and the courage there is no guarantee you will not be killed by monsters or other enemies.
 
Goldfish said:
Right there with you, dude.

Too bad everyone isn't so sensible, else the world would be a much different place.
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If I see something like that, regular guards trying to bribe relatively small sums out of potentially dangerous people, I always have to think back to my old chemistry teacher.

He had a sign on his desk that said something like "I can be bribed, you just can't afford it".
And that always made a lot of sense to me.
Why take serious risks for small money?
If I ever were in a position where some lobbyist would offer shit worth hundreds of thousands, I might be tempted. But anything less than a few years' regular salary auto-fails the risk/reward calculation to me.
 
Artemis1992 said:
If I see something like that, regular guards trying to bribe relatively small sums out of potentially dangerous people, I always have to think back to my old chemistry teacher.

He had a sign on his desk that said something like "I can be bribed, you just can't afford it".
And that always made a lot of sense to me.
Why take serious risks for small money?
If I ever were in a position where some lobbyist would offer shit worth hundreds of thousands, I might be tempted. But anything less than a few years' regular salary auto-fails the risk/reward calculation to me.
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Speaking as someone who comes from the... bastion of fair dealing that is Romania what you are missing I think it how those odds change when everyone, or at least most people are doing it. General apathy towards or even tolerance for corruption means that the community will be on your side even when the law is not if you have some conflict with foreigners over corruption. As for your more honest fellows 'snitches get stitches'.
 
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DragonParadox said:
For the most part if you are take years to gain that power.
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Then why some people ("PCs") can raise to level 12 in a year (with a bright perspective of future grow) and to the others level 12 is a bleak dream of whole life? I thought that evereone receive XP on the same rate, and speed of levelling depends only on risks they are willing to take. What makes PC so special?
 
Arhin said:
Then why some people ("PCs") can raise to level 12 in a year (with a bright perspective of future grow) and to the others level 12 is a bleak dream of whole life? I thought that evereone receive XP on the same rate, and speed of levelling depends only on risks they are willing to take. What makes PC so special?
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Can't answer that without spoilers. It has to do with the metaphysics of the present age in this version of the setting.
 
Arhin said:
Then why some people ("PCs") can raise to level 12 in a year (with a bright perspective of future grow) and to the others level 12 is a bleak dream of whole life? I thought that evereone receive XP on the same rate, and speed of levelling depends only on risks they are willing to take. What makes PC so special?
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Beyond being special in metaphysical ways, I think a lot of it just comes down to survival and drive to improve. Most people reach a point where they are happy with what they've got and stop striving for more.

That's how it work IRL, so it makes sense to happen elsewhere as well.

I'm happy with my life and comfortable in all the ways that really matter, so I'm not out learning martial arts, multiple languages, and nuclear physics. If those pursuits led to potential immortality, phenomenal cosmic power, and the chance to explore the multiverse, I would probably be in a dojo right now. :p
 
Artemis1992 said:
I can't understand that people would not only risk their job but their actual life for a bit extra money.
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^ Literal adventurers' way of life. Not to mention that risking life for pay is the description of a guard's job.

The 'secret' to their behavior is that there is little risk involved, at least compared to the actual job an armed guard is supposed to do. What are we going to do, fight them over it? We have less legal protections than they do, and they have an eye for who is safe-ish to pressure, which hasn't failed them so far else they wouldn't be doing it.

And though there must be plenty of stories how it failed someone else, there is always the feeling that you are smarter or luckier than 'those losers who get caught'.

Rather than argue and risk a confrontation, I'd say pay the fee, and ensure it's a one-time one. Find some actual arrangement with the Pathfinders so we'd have some leverage next time. If we are going to give Sirim his medallion and help him restore the identity, make use of his contacts to make your way through the city unobstructed.

[x] Pay the bribe, it can't be that bad and you are going to have to pass by their post many times over
DragonParadox said:
He considers you a moment, then deposits the medallion back in your hand. "Too true yet you've little choice but to adapt, there is but one nation upon the surface of the world where your kindred can be found in any number and it is not this one."
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I thought you said we could pass for a half-elf for most folk?
 
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DragonParadox said:
Sirim is not most people when it comes to this sort of lore, he called Akorian by his true heritage when you guys first met. As for passing for a half elf, you can in principle but between Friendless and Unnatural Shadow if you meet someone face to face they are going to be uneasy.
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We should use magic then!

I'm sure an inhuman shadow rising from the ground and whispering to someone is much less terrifying than meeting us in person :V
 
zxzx24 said:
We should use magic then!

I'm sure an inhuman shadow rising from the ground and whispering to someone is much less terrifying than meeting us in person :V
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Just wait until we can possess our shadow and remote control it. That'll be fun. Also amazing for scouting and assassination.

Only a few levels away if we choose the right Revelation.
 
[X] Try to bluff your way past
-[X] "If you want a bribe, take it up with the Pathfinder who hired us."
 
DragonParadox said:
Sirim is not most people when it comes to this sort of lore
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Oh no, I didn't mean him. In fact, this is part of the reason I am tentatively siding with him; his interest in the World Breaker implied a certain degree of involvement with the topic.

I just wondered if Kori is, perhaps, not blending in with the locals all that well if he is that uncomfortable with the stares he gets. Out of our entire party, he should be the least odd one at first glance... well, maybe the second-least now that Mina is using a disguise.

By the way, is drow silk widely recognized? How is it different from 'mere' silk?
 
Nevill said:
Oh no, I didn't mean him. In fact, this is part of the reason I am tentatively siding with him; his interest in the World Breaker implied a certain degree of involvement with the topic.

I just wondered if Kori is, perhaps, not blending in with the locals all that well if he is that uncomfortable with the stares he gets. Out of our entire party, he should be the least odd one at first glance... well, maybe the second-least now that Mina is using a disguise.

By the way, is drow silk widely recognized? How is it different from 'mere' silk?
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He has Unnatural Shadow, that means that on average 30% or so of people spot the shadow and mark him as supernaturally evil for it. Now consider the company he keeps, the heavily armed lizardmen hunters and the color-changing goblin for the most part. Mina keeps her disguise self up as long as she can, she is the one who draws the least stares. All of you are going to draw stares, but Kori is going to draw a disproportionate number of the hostile ones because of his curse.

As for drow silk it is not, for not-experts at least, but it is odd to say the least having armor made of silk.
 
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