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Finding the Spark (Pathfinder 1E Quest)

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Goldfish said:
I think Pepper is still set to boost Perception from the last time we switched it over?

I hesitate to assign him the Gem here in the city. Beyond him being very fragile and the Gem being very valuable, making him a prime target for thieves, we should probably avoid loosing a Fire Elemental in the city if at all avoidable.
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fair fair
 
Glad to have finally arrived, now we just gotta close out quest.

[X] Goldfish

Gonna have a chat with Urgor about when he and his clan make for ancestral home later since we did promise to assist him, maybe after he buys some anti-possession gear given his recent experiences.
 
Vote closed.
Adhoc vote count started by DragonParadox on Oct 26, 2024 at 3:36 AM, finished with 11 posts and 4 votes.
  • [X] Welcome to Cassomir
    -[X] At Kegfoot's, before we go anywhere:
    --[X] Preliminary Information Gathering: Kori uses Shadow Enchantment to cast Bestow Insight (Perception) on Cob, then Sirim uses Wild Arcana to cast Ears of the City on him. Cob uses Perception to gather the information rather than Diplomacy.
    --[X] Mina uses Wild Arcana to cast Carry Companion on Warty so that Gorok can keep him close by without attracting even more attention.
    --[X] Speak With Sir Pisca: Ask that he continue to assist us with our stay in Cassomir in exchange for our help with lessening the danger when he imbibes the Numerian fluids. We can't guarantee to make them safe, but we can make them safer, and we will be on hand to provide immediate magical help if necessary.
    --[X] Use the Pathfinders' mirror to contact the organization and ask how we should approach the local Lodge, and if they have any important information to share with us.
    -[X] Once those matters are handled (unless our previous efforts reveal information that changes how we would respond):
    --[X] Kori, Cob, Leontas, and a detachment of his men will join Urgor in getting the adamantine certified and prepared for reforging.
    --[X] Gorok, Mina, and Sirim, along with the Iruxi and more of Leontas' men will join Sir Pisca to escort Marik the Masterful and Tarik the Wise to their new, temporary home in the rather ominously named 'Swift Prison'.
    [X] Welcome to Cassomir
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Arc 9 Post 35: Tales of the High, Whispers Among the Lowly New
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    • Tales of the High, Whispers Among the Lowly ​

    12th of Kuthona 4707 A.R. (Absalom Reckoning)

    Cob's sharp ears make for good listening, especially when it's the spirits of the wind that carry the voices of the city hither. There's been a rash of disappearances around the ruins of Quickfall Abbey north of here across the harbor, though most of the citizenry are blaming 'the rot of the teeth' for it's been getting a lot harder to ignore when a family of four related to the Weaver's Guild Grandmaster ended up among the missing and all investigations. Rumor has is that they are at various points dead, alive, fled the city to Andoran after they had been uncovered as spies, fallen ill to an ancient family blood curse, and eaten by goblins. That last bit is hard to credit, according to Cob. No goblins he knows beside himself would have been able to kidnap four people from the middle of a well-lit street and carry them off without a sound, and fewer would even have tried.

    Cob Perception: 1d20+16 = 33 (???)

    The second rumor he stumbles upon is less rumor and more trumpeted from every corner. Princess Eutropia was to visit the city within the week to inspect the docks and the preparedness of the navy in the wake of following a rash of Andoran privateering on Taldan flagged merchantmen, mostly slave ships from Sothis bearing captives from among the desert tribes who raid Osirion. The Taldans, you find from just looking across the faces in the market and marking which bear collars, are hesitant to enslave what they count as 'kin', which considering the former size of the Empire encompassed most of Avistan, though they will take both Kelids from the north and Garundis from the south. As for the halflings... well, they are not even human. Tanglenet, the inn's sole halfling slave, doesn't show any marks on him and seems in decent spirits, though it sits ill with you to see him head bowed and half whispering, recalling your journeys in the company of Bellflower.

    Last and late, for word of it had to be carried across the waters of the harbor from the small islands the locals call the' Dog's Teeth', there is black discontent. The harvest had been poor and more of it than usual has been sold up river to the dwarves following a rich gem strike that left them flush with silver, leaving the price for the poorest of Cassomir's folk so heavy as to leave many with empty bellies. Most of the city doesn't seem worried about it, 'let them riot and burn their own hovels', but within the Teeth itself there's a sense of... anticipation that leaves Cob twitchy half a bell after the spell is done.

    Sir Pisca dismisses talk of 'beggars and scum', though he does explain that it's unlikely the princess' arrival means much of anything. It is a fact, well-known if little spoken of among the Taldan aristocracy, that the Emperor does not think much of his daughter and sole surviving child, particularly her ambitions to succeed him in defiance of Imperial law. He most likely just wants her out of Opara for her birthday, her supporters among the city's merchants and especially the students at the 'Kitharodian Academy' and the 'Rhapsodic College' like to make the most trouble of themselves.

    "Bards in training aren't going to make a revolution, but they do know how to make noise," the knight scoffs.

    "Their words carry far," Sirim floats among the rafters of the low tavern common room, lost among the pipe smoke. "Perhaps the Emperor is wiser than this knight, he could hardly be less."

    "I thought you wanted to help him,"     you send surprised, meeting his ember-bright eyes.

    "I am intrigued by the potential results and not opposed to rendering aid, that does not signify a nod to the man's sense."

    ***​

    Speaking of Sir Pisca's sense, though he did not merely call on the City Watch to bring the pirate captain and false priest to Swift Prison, he instead summons instead the legionaries of the Seventh Taldan Legion, the Red Lions, Taldans seem to love lions almost as much as the Andoran's do eagles. Why not a goat or a chicken, one wonders, they have more to do with the fantastical wealth that allows them to live in such abundance and afford such wars.

    "Good luck, they shouldn't be much trouble, cursed as they are," you wish Mina well as you head off to meet with the Pathfinder's Lodge in the shadow of Castle Grayguard. Built on firmer ground, allowing for more daring heights of architecture, the buildings here are so tall and close together that even the glare of the afternoon sun barely reaches the cobble. More tunnel than road, a dozen signs creaking above them; apothecaries, tailors, cobblers, and wheelwrights, all the services that might be needed to the soldiers of the citadel, as well as some of the comforts they might enjoy.

    The local brothels are obviously doing good enough business to advertise by glamor-craft and taking full advantage of the fact to exaggerate their assets. At least you think they are, having no impulse to try them out regardless of Leontas asking when he catches you staring.

    How much of your adventures do you inform the Pathfinders of?

    [] The encounter with the dragon and the mind-core

    [] The defeat of the Ogre champion and the sacred fire that filled you that day

    [] Just Gavhaul's death, that is all they are paying you for

    [] Write in

    OOC: Enjoy.
     
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    • DragonParadox said:
    That last bit's hard to credit according to Cob, no goblins he knows beside himself would have been able to kidnap four people from the middle of a well lit street and carried them off without a sound and few would even have tried.
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    I have full confidence in your ability to successfully kidnap four muggles without being caught, Cob. :cool2:

    If we were planning to stick around longer, those rumors Cob learned point toward several promising adventuring opportunities. Thankfully, however, we're leaving sooner rather than later. Taldor sucks and we have places to be.

    As for what we share with the Pathfinders, I think we should stick to the job we were hired for. Sharing more than that could endanger Sylestrix because the Pathfinders would definitely be interested in getting their hands on the Mind Core. And telling them about the Ogre Champion might give away too much about our newfound Mythic status.

    [X] Just Gavhaul's death, that is all they are paying you for
     
    Ah, maybe we should have had Sirim with us for the diplo checks with the pathfinders? Because:

    [X] Just Gavhaul's death, that is all they are paying you for
    -    [X] If Kori has a quiet/private moment before the meeting, he casts Shadow Enchantment: Hermean Potential on himself.
    --[X] Ask them if they can sell/help you source the following (might need to wait to make the actual purchases until after we sell some loot):
    ---[X] Rune of Rule
    ---[X] Deathwine (if asking for this causes concerned looks, it's for boosting Sharesister)
    ---[X] Contingent Action
    ---[X] Two or three Speak with Birds scrolls (as a level 1 spell, they're cheap, and save Gorok's slots for combat)
    ---[X] Drow Poison
    ---[X] Fire Jackal Saliva

    And, yes, I will be repeating this list at the appropriate time with Pisca*, and if/when we do regular shopping. FOR THE DANCING SLURK!

    *A day or two before we help make taking the vials safer for him. I want to take advantage of how much we've benefited him before he risks his life.
     
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    Keep in mind that before shopping, we first have to do the selling.

    With a bit going to Pisca and to the rest of our caravan.
     
    I put in that we might need to do selling first, this is an... 'access' check. As in, might we be able to get

    If DP is willing to let us roll for each group we have an 'in' with later all at the same time (before remaking the boat, and giving us time for the spells to be learnt), that'd be great too.

    (And would probably keep things more cohesive)
     
    [X] Just Gavhaul's death, that is all they are paying you for

    No point sharing other stuff far as I know.
     
    Goldfish said:
    If we were planning to stick around longer, those rumors Cob learned point toward several promising adventuring opportunities. Thankfully, however, we're leaving sooner rather than later. Taldor sucks and we have places to be.
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    I'd like to do a couple of side quests before we leave. This is the third nation since we left Nar Voth, and I want to get a feel for it.

    We'd be here for the visit of the princess, at least, and it's a rare enough event that I think our party might want to see it. I was hoping to have something similar to the Augustana arc in Cassomir, which was one of my favorites in the entire quest; a few episodic adventures before we wrap up what we can and move on.

    [x] Just Gavhaul's death, that is all they are paying you for
    -    [x] If Kori has a quiet/private moment before the meeting, he casts Shadow Enchantment: Hermean Potential on himself.
    --[x] Ask them if they can sell/help you source the following (might need to wait to make the actual purchases until after we sell some loot):
    ---[x] Rune of Rule
    ---[x] Deathwine (if asking for this causes concerned looks, it's for boosting Sharesister)
    ---[x] Contingent Action
    ---[x] Two or three Speak with Birds scrolls (as a level 1 spell, they're cheap, and save Gorok's slots for combat)
    ---[x] Drow Poison
    ---[x] Fire Jackal Saliva

    Is there a particular reason we are making a secret out of our Mythic status? I think the pirate sorceress guessed our nature, and this knowledge will spread eventually.
     
    [X] Just Gavhaul's death, that is all they are paying you for
    -[X] If Kori has a quiet/private moment before the meeting, he casts Shadow Enchantment: Hermean Potential on himself.
    --[X] Ask them if they can sell/help you source the following (might need to wait to make the actual purchases until after we sell some loot):
    ---[X] Rune of Rule
    ---[X] Deathwine (if asking for this causes concerned looks, it's for boosting Sharesister)
    ---[X] Contingent Action
    ---[X] Two or three Speak with Birds scrolls (as a level 1 spell, they're cheap, and save Gorok's slots for combat)
    ---[X] Drow Poison
    ---[X] Fire Jackal Saliva
     
    Vote closed.
    Adhoc vote count started by DragonParadox on Oct 27, 2024 at 1:07 PM, finished with 10 posts and 8 votes.
    • [X] Just Gavhaul's death, that is all they are paying you for
      [X] Just Gavhaul's death, that is all they are paying you for
      -[X] If Kori has a quiet/private moment before the meeting, he casts Shadow Enchantment: Hermean Potential on himself.
      --[X] Ask them if they can sell/help you source the following (might need to wait to make the actual purchases until after we sell some loot):
      ---[X] Rune of Rule
      ---[X] Deathwine (if asking for this causes concerned looks, it's for boosting Sharesister)
      ---[X] Contingent Action
      ---[X] Two or three Speak with Birds scrolls (as a level 1 spell, they're cheap, and save Gorok's slots for combat)
      ---[X] Drow Poison
      ---[X] Fire Jackal Saliva
    Click to expand...
     
    Arc 9 Post 35: On the Matter of Tea New
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    • On the Matter of Tea​

    12th of Kuthona 4707 A.R. (Absalom Reckoning)

    Ulenar 'the Unwelcome', as he introduces himself with a smile, Venture-Captain of Cassomir, is an elf, though one would find it hard to tell so at first glance from the golden hair cut right above he ears to the silken cap common to the southern reaches of Talor. He seems, by all accounts, a human merchant of middling wealth and more than middling reach. Only the sharpness of his features and the depth of his eyes betrays him: here golden as treasure just brought to light, there yellow like a predator about to pounce, always betraying long ages under the sun.

    "To just rewards," he raises a glass of some no doubt fine concoction of grape, motioning with his other hand to the small chest on the table next to him. It almost seems gauche to count the contents, but this is not one to scrimp at mere coin. If he is minded to betray someone, the victim is likely as not to find themselves struggling to unwind the plot even as the dagger goes through their neck. You are uncomfortably reminded of the fact that elves of the deep lands and the sun share kinship, no matter how much Mina might extol their differences.

    Gain 3,500 gp

    No sooner had you taken the payment that the elf looks up over the rim of his glass and said: "Be wary, the Asps are on the prowl. They know that Gavhaul is dead, though not what lead him to his doom. The countermeasures served their purpose well."

    Reminded of their existence, you glance down into the depths of the magic bag and pull out four strips of parchment bound in copper chains, three of them seared black.

    "You probably should have kept those where you could see them," the elf offers diplomatically.

    "And where others could see them," you counter. "Are you saying Gavhaul would not have been able to mark their origin?"

    "One of your company could have stayed hidden, you seem quite skilled at that." He looks at you, hooded gaze unreadable. "It is quite uncommon for field promotions to be offered for veiled action, especially when those veils are stained in the blood of folks one might have tea with."

    "Say again?" you turn to him, bemused and, despite yourself, a touch amused.

    "The world is split along many axes, civilization and chaos, right and wrong, life and death, but I have found most useful the parting of the tea set, those who one might have to share tea with, even under duress, among which are counted the Aspis for our sins, and those who are not; ork berserkers, mad priests of the Rough Beast, dero surgeons..." He pauses. "The point of this digression is that I am willing to offer you a place in the society despite the fact that I will have to explain in person before the Decenvirate in exchange for a favor."

    "One from each of us?" Your tone could not have been more dubious.

    "A single favor asked for at a time of my choosing, though I see that you are cautious. That speaks well of you." The smile grows a little more genuine. "Two refusals."

    So a favor or favors you do not know of to be asked for at some future point with two rights of refusal. One wonders how Ulenar intends to enforce it once you are all Pathfinders, but there is little doubt in your mind he has some means in mind.

    What do you say?

    [] Accept in the name of Gorok's Ghosts
    (Gain Pathfinder status; owe a favor to Ulenar the Unwelcome, x2 Rights of Refusal)

    [] Refuse the offer in the name of Gorok's Ghosts
    (Gain nothing)

    [] Demure, you must speak to your companions
    (Delay, the decision will be put up to a vote within the party which you can influence, but not decide on your own)

    OOC: Social Rolls Hidden.
     
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    • [X] Demure, you must speak to your companions
    -[X] Kori is leaning no, less worrisome to try and get in whatever is the 'normal, open way' than owe this guy an unspecified favour.
    -[X] If the favour wasn't anything monstrous or involves significant risks of turning a major city against us, he can probably just... pay us to do it.


    He uh. Ain't sold me on this. What does being in the Pathfinders even give us (and is it worth getting now when we might just do open jobs for the Pathfinders and get it a fair bit later)?
     
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    Pathfinder elf is a little shady, but then again every organization has one... and they do have uses.

    Still, feel like this is a party thing and shouldn't make decision ourselves.

    [X] Demure, you must speak to your companions
    (Delay, the decision will be put up to a vote within the party which you can influence, but not decide on your own)
     
    I'm not completely opposed to membership in the Pathfinders, but it's not my preference. They have a lot of resources and contacts that could prove useful to js, but they also have a hierarchy with a well defined chain of command.

    For example, they could help us uncover Azlanti secrets and artifacts using the clues we learned early on when Kori got his headband. Unfortunately, they would also wants those artifacts for themselves.

    Either way, I don't think we should unilaterally make this decision on our own.

    [X] Demure, you must speak to your companions
    (Delay, the decision will be put up to a vote within the party which you can influence, but not decide on your own)
     
    [X] Demure, you must speak to your companions
    (Delay, the decision will be put up to a vote within the party which you can influence, but not decide on your own)
     
    DragonParadox said:
    Reminded of their existence you glance down into the depths of the magic bag and pull out four strips of parchment bound in copper chains, three of them are seared black.

    "You probably should have kept those where you could see them," the elf offers diplomatically.
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    Meaning?

    Goldfish said:
    I'm not completely opposed to membership in the Pathfinders, but it's not my preference.
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    I thought this was a major part of the reasoning for betraying the Aspis.
    DragonParadox said:
    It's likely Gorok noticed the same thing, turning to Thea and asking: "We would make many enemies to betray these merchants. Would we gain allies? Would we gain membership?"

    Seemingly taken aback by the question the Venture Captain is silent a moment before admitting. "Depends on what you come back with. Field commissions are not unheard of, but they have to stand up to review from the Grand Lodge and it would be my neck on the line for it..." She notices Mina's look. "Not literally, lass. We're not like the damn asps."
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    If not that, then what did we do it for?
     
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