Finding the Spark (Pathfinder 1E Quest)
- Thread starter DragonParadox
- Start date
- Fantasy
-
- Tags
- pathfinder
- Location
- Argentina
Holy shit, I would have loved to see this animated , but I think that the nearest thing I am going to find
Cob is best gobbo friend. Cheers to DP for making him so likeable. I am almost tempted to make him our diplomancer.
That was so sweet and awkward. Even if we are suboptimal, I like Kori. The child forced to cheat and deceive to survive is just someone that needs love deep inside. It gives me the warm fuzzies.
So, I love the Caligni stuff, and I would prioritize it, were it for me. Yet... I think that Cauldron getting raided is time-sensitive, and that we might help the whole town somehow with that quest. The troll can probably defent itself, with its incredible regeneration. I would like to do everything, and if I can choose an order, I would do Forges>Troll>Dark Folk shaman>Surface.
But, having already two party members wanting to go for the surface, it means that if we propose another course of action that is not the Forges woul result in the party choosing the surface.
So,
[X] Set off again at once
-[X] To the construct makers, Gorok has waited long enough to unlock their secrets for his tribe
Gorok made this party happen, we should be grateful of that.
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The vote is still very close, I'll leave it up for a few more hours then close it.
Vote closed
Arc 2 Post 12: On the Trail of Secrets
On the Trail of Secrets
The Season of Still Stone
In the end, after much debate and no small amount of harsh-tasting muck-beer which no one but a dwarf would drink outside the environs of a safe settlement, for you and Cob at least, you decide that it would be best to travel with Gorok to claim what arts of the xulgath could be recovered for his own scaled kindred. Unlike the brief conviction that you can hold a tune with to travel thence outlasts the deep slumber to follow, though admittedly even the soft guide lights of Cauldron gleaming off its noxious waters now cause you pain as if they had been a flare in the dark.
On the way Gorok tells you what he knows of the xulgath in questions. "Two breeds they are, black high crests, black scales, they are strong of mind, strong of body maybe. They do not fight with blade, not even with bow or sling, but with mind. Twist round the thoughts of their enemies, maybe the thoughts of their low crest nest-maters as well." The stoic Gorok seems to find the latter practice distasteful, though whether from moral objection or simply due to the inadvisability of mastering one's allies though finite sorcery you could not say.
"Low crests are scouts, hunters, foragers, not clever, not high of mind, but many-many eggs, too many maybe, perhaps they bread too much and now send runts to die on mongrelman spears." That is definitely a moral objection, the twitch of the tongue as though he had just smelled something foul is a tell. "They fight with spear, sometimes with sling, beware magic reek."
Cob tips his head to the side as though he does not know what to make of being warned off a smell. "Smells like dog in rain?"
Alas trying to translate smells is about as efficient as Gorok himself attempting to impress upon you the subtle differences Xulgath spoor, which you are quite sure many in your own tribe would have recognized, but in which you are as ignorant as Mina, and happy to be so, after all to get within smelling range of one xulgath mark or another one must be within smelling range.
Upon realizing the futility of trying to teach this particular part of his craft the scout moves on to explaining why these particular xulgath are called the 'construct makers'. Given the secrets you are seeking you had expected things of metal and wheels, whirring sentinels of the kind it is whispered the dwarfs use to guard their treasure vaults of their honored dead which to them are one and the same. It is not so. This particular tribe of the xulgath are herders of cave lizards which feed upon the abundant mycelium carpets that grow even here along the path and in their fertile feeding grounds are like onto a fur of stone fit to feed dozens of the beasts. They are quick-shedding the herd-beasts of the xulgath, their skin able to be harvested dozens, perhaps hundreds of times in one life and from those skins are stitched vaguely upright puppets, animate with serpents and spiders, which even in their destruction is sure to bedevil the foe.
Curiously according to Gorok who has stalked them often the constructs are only ever commander by the low crests, the least of the tribe. Do their leaders count themselves above all battle save with the use of their minds unshackled? you wonder, though alas wonder is all you can do. Gorok had never spoken to one of the construct-makers in peace as they too seem to have tales of the iruxi and they are not peaceful in the least. He had almost been dragged back to their caverns as a slave when he had come to negotiate with them in peace and later when he had approached them in Cauldron the trader had refused to answer him, even attempting to drive him away with his scent. Whatever knowledge they possess the xulgath will have to be divested of it by trickery or by force.
How does Kori think it would be best to start the raiding?
[] Attack their herds as they are brought in for skin collection, scatter them and take a prisoner for interrogation
[] Cob and Gorok should use their light tread and skill with traps to ensnare one of the hunters of the tribe. Unlike the herders they will know more about the forge, being as they bear weapons of iron, but they are also more likely to escape or even turn the tables
[] Sneak right into the heart of the tribe's territory as close as you can get to the forge, then through all the arts at your disposal, either try to slip further into the old ruins or cut your way through
[] Collaborate with mongrelman patrols out of Cauldron, as safe as skirmishing gets, but it guarantees word getting back to xulgath leadership
[] Write in
OOC: And we are off again. Hope you guys like the hints of cave biota.
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Goldfish
Friendly Spider-Fish Abomination
- Location
- Formerly of the Far Realm
So there are true Xulgaths among the ruling caste and Troglodytes as the labor/soldier caste. That's good to know. We're going to want to avoid the true Xulgaths as much as possible, and always if they're in groups, especially with other Xulgaths.
If we go with the first option, we also have the benefit of Mina's Pass Without Trace SLA, which she can apply to 2 targets for 2 hours each day. That should make Gorok and Cob's task much easier.
If we aid the Mongrelmen, we not only can provide solid Intel, between Kori and Mina we bring significant healing capacity to the table. That could preserve a lot of Mongrelmen forces and further ingratiate us to Cauldron.
IMO, we should either go with the option to have Gorok and Cob isolate a Troglodyte hunter for Intel gathering, or join up with the Mongrelmen for safety in numbers and potentially having more direct effect on the conflict.
If we go with the first option, we also have the benefit of Mina's Pass Without Trace SLA, which she can apply to 2 targets for 2 hours each day. That should make Gorok and Cob's task much easier.
If we aid the Mongrelmen, we not only can provide solid Intel, between Kori and Mina we bring significant healing capacity to the table. That could preserve a lot of Mongrelmen forces and further ingratiate us to Cauldron.
Goldfish
Friendly Spider-Fish Abomination
- Location
- Formerly of the Far Realm
[X] Cob and Gorok should use their light tread and skill with traps to ensnare one of the hunters of the tribe. Unlike the herders they will know more about the forge, being as they bear weapons of iron, but they are also more likely to escape or even turn the tables
-[X] Mina will use her Pass Without Trace SLA on Cob and Gorok before they set a trap or arrange an ambush for the hunter. Their task will be that much easier when they don't need to worry about leaving tracks or even a scent trail in their wake.
-[X] Mina will use her Pass Without Trace SLA on Cob and Gorok before they set a trap or arrange an ambush for the hunter. Their task will be that much easier when they don't need to worry about leaving tracks or even a scent trail in their wake.
Massgamer
Advance toward the Future
- Location
- The Future
[X] Cob and Gorok should use their light tread and skill with traps to ensnare one of the hunters of the tribe. Unlike the herders they will know more about the forge, being as they bear weapons of iron, but they are also more likely to escape or even turn the tables
-[X] Mina will use her Pass Without Trace SLA on Cob and Gorok before they set a trap or arrange an ambush for the hunter. Their task will be that much easier when they don't need to worry about leaving tracks or even a scent trail in their wake.
-[X] Mina will use her Pass Without Trace SLA on Cob and Gorok before they set a trap or arrange an ambush for the hunter. Their task will be that much easier when they don't need to worry about leaving tracks or even a scent trail in their wake.
- Pronouns
- God
[ x] Write in : Recon the forge area before making a decision, or at least ruling out a path forward.
- Location
- florida
[X] Cob and Gorok should use their light tread and skill with traps to ensnare one of the hunters of the tribe. Unlike the herders they will know more about the forge, being as they bear weapons of iron, but they are also more likely to escape or even turn the tables
-[X] Mina will use her Pass Without Trace SLA on Cob and Gorok before they set a trap or arrange an ambush for the hunter. Their task will be that much easier when they don't need to worry about leaving tracks or even a scent trail in their wake.
-[X] Mina will use her Pass Without Trace SLA on Cob and Gorok before they set a trap or arrange an ambush for the hunter. Their task will be that much easier when they don't need to worry about leaving tracks or even a scent trail in their wake.
- Location
- Argentina
Allright, let's make a more in deep analysis of this situation
This nets us low value targets, makes chaos and disrupts the enemy but will alert them to our presence.
Higher risk, but goes for high value targets and we are specially prepared to be sneaky. We ARE the sneaky party, so this is playing to our advantages. We also have nice spells to ambush, with the whole sleep hex and spell, Ill Omen to guarantee them failing saving throws, and Web bolt and command to pin them into place. Troglodytes even have -1 to their reflex save. They are easy targets if caught off uard and our terms.
Suicidal risk, but if it works we have done it. Does not play to our advantages nor to our personalities. Well, maybe Cob can go that way. But not the rest.
Now, this is an interesting one. I like the mongrelmen, and having Gorok's Fixers fame grow as full on mercenaries is bound to give us an interesting reputation. It also allows us, if things go right, to get into proper war planning and increase the resources at our disposal. The party of adventurers has clout to spend and can influence their decisions. This is a force multipler on all sides, as we can heal and sneak and they have manpower.
Still, this has the problem of probably saring away the hunters, the high-value targets, and we will instead get chaff thrown at us. So, I would suggest we go this way if we don't find a way to properly sneak into the Xulgath forges, as we will need someone to distract them.
Having said all this, I am going to go for the option that plays to our advantages, and net us the best results.
[X] Cob and Gorok should use their light tread and skill with traps to ensnare one of the hunters of the tribe. Unlike the herders they will know more about the forge, being as they bear weapons of iron, but they are also more likely to escape or even turn the tables
-[X] Mina will use her Pass Without Trace SLA on Cob and Gorok before they set a trap or arrange an ambush for the hunter. Their task will be that much easier when they don't need to worry about leaving tracks or even a scent trail in their wake.
This nets us low value targets, makes chaos and disrupts the enemy but will alert them to our presence.
Higher risk, but goes for high value targets and we are specially prepared to be sneaky. We ARE the sneaky party, so this is playing to our advantages. We also have nice spells to ambush, with the whole sleep hex and spell, Ill Omen to guarantee them failing saving throws, and Web bolt and command to pin them into place. Troglodytes even have -1 to their reflex save. They are easy targets if caught off uard and our terms.
Suicidal risk, but if it works we have done it. Does not play to our advantages nor to our personalities. Well, maybe Cob can go that way. But not the rest.
Now, this is an interesting one. I like the mongrelmen, and having Gorok's Fixers fame grow as full on mercenaries is bound to give us an interesting reputation. It also allows us, if things go right, to get into proper war planning and increase the resources at our disposal. The party of adventurers has clout to spend and can influence their decisions. This is a force multipler on all sides, as we can heal and sneak and they have manpower.
Still, this has the problem of probably saring away the hunters, the high-value targets, and we will instead get chaff thrown at us. So, I would suggest we go this way if we don't find a way to properly sneak into the Xulgath forges, as we will need someone to distract them.
Having said all this, I am going to go for the option that plays to our advantages, and net us the best results.
[X] Cob and Gorok should use their light tread and skill with traps to ensnare one of the hunters of the tribe. Unlike the herders they will know more about the forge, being as they bear weapons of iron, but they are also more likely to escape or even turn the tables
-[X] Mina will use her Pass Without Trace SLA on Cob and Gorok before they set a trap or arrange an ambush for the hunter. Their task will be that much easier when they don't need to worry about leaving tracks or even a scent trail in their wake.
- Location
- Singapore
[X] Cob and Gorok should use their light tread and skill with traps to ensnare one of the hunters of the tribe. Unlike the herders they will know more about the forge, being as they bear weapons of iron, but they are also more likely to escape or even turn the tables
-[X] Mina will use her Pass Without Trace SLA on Cob and Gorok before they set a trap or arrange an ambush for the hunter. Their task will be that much easier when they don't need to worry about leaving tracks or even a scent trail in their wake.
-[X] Mina will use her Pass Without Trace SLA on Cob and Gorok before they set a trap or arrange an ambush for the hunter. Their task will be that much easier when they don't need to worry about leaving tracks or even a scent trail in their wake.
OK, looks like we are doing some trapping.
Arc 2 Interlude 1: On the Hunt
On the Hunt
The Season of Still Stone
Twas not the first time that Gorok had hunted thinking prey, far from it. The warm bloods often trespassed onto the hunting grounds of the tribe when the great herons took to fight, claiming trophies even as they scorned the meat. Nor was it the first time he had to enter by stealth into the territory of another, wriggling through passages almost too tight to take him, stone scraping against scale. Being able to hide paid almost as well as being willing to kill and both together earned him a fair living among the mongrelmen of Cauldron and the surrounding bands, but this was the first time he had returned to these tunnels since he had been driven out.
The stone of the wide downwards sloping corridor was smooth as if polished by the touch of water, but it was bone dry and if one were to look upon it closely in the gleam of light, rare and precious in the sunless lands, one might still see the divide between one block and another. This place had not been delved, but built by some unimaginable purpose now lost to time.
"Shh... hear that," his companion, who might have been mistaken for a lichen colored boulder by reason of the rotundness of his head and the way his skin took on the blue-ish hue of the stone, said. "There's something up Shaft Three."
Having no notion of how the long dead builders might have organized the complex, Gorok had taken to giving simple numerical designations to its various components, something Cob found boring, but not so much that he insisted on a more 'fun' name. The matter of how nomenclature could entertain was entirely beyond the iruxi.
Shaft Three was one of the branching paths too steep to walk comfortably, it had to be climbed with firm claw-holds into the stone. It was also utterly covered in fungal strands, including the dead ones, dry and resinous that cracked when you broke them, sure to alert any listeners. Luck was with them this time, both of them made it to the top without a whisper of their passage marking their approach, and peering over the top with eyes that had been begotten to see above the murky waterline, Gorok saw a trio of xulgath hunters, their own scales almost matching the dirty grey of their hide wrappings, spears in hand, eyes darting left and right, tongues tasting the air as they called out to each other in a tongue familiar-strange. The lead one was not speaking to the others, but sparing all his words and most of his physical might to controlling the hunting lizard he had by a harness stitched from the rawhide of its kin. Its head was misshapen from some blow it may have taken as a hatchling and its left eye was weeping pus.
Would have been useful to have the aid of Mina-Witch, Gorok thought, though almost immediately his mind corrected with recollections of her tripping over her own two feet. Maybe best that she is not here.
Unfortunately the shaft was only large enough for one of them to come up out of it at once and there was no place to hide above, not with the enemy so close, so Gorok himself would have to hold the line. Unless... he remembered the stone they had gotten from the thralls-made-once-allies. Certainly the elemental would be able to pour out of the shaft like a sudden belching of flame from the depths, but it would ensure the destruction of one of the foe and perhaps set the others to flight at once, forcing Gorok and Cob to give chase through tunnels their quarry knew better than they.
How do the pair overcome their foes?
[] Direct combat, Gorok must hold at the lip of the shaft long enough for Cob to come out
[] Send the elemental out to incinerate one of your foes
-[] Write in which
[] Wait for another group.
OOC: Hope you guys enjoy the look inside Gorok's head.
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Goldfish
Friendly Spider-Fish Abomination
- Location
- Formerly of the Far Realm
Always fun to get other POVs. Gorok's head is especially interesting, IMO.
Given the objective of this mission, I don't think we should target the hunting party just yet. The whole purpose of using stealth is to act without being discovered, with patience being key to success. Trying to ambush three hunters and their lizard seems to run counter to that. Sure, Gorok and Cob could succeed in killing most of them and capturing one, but it could also end in failure if one of them manages to escape.
Better to be patient and wait for a better opportunity.
[X] Wait for another group.
Given the objective of this mission, I don't think we should target the hunting party just yet. The whole purpose of using stealth is to act without being discovered, with patience being key to success. Trying to ambush three hunters and their lizard seems to run counter to that. Sure, Gorok and Cob could succeed in killing most of them and capturing one, but it could also end in failure if one of them manages to escape.
Better to be patient and wait for a better opportunity.
[X] Wait for another group.
- Pronouns
- God
[X] Wait for another group.
This is true, if you wait you are doing so in their territory. Keep in mind Cob and Gorok have to roll stealth each time they find a party like this and while they are good at it bad rolls do happen. Also after each tick of time passing I will also roll a potential encounter for Mina and Akorian. It's not like the depths of Nar Voth are entirely safe for them either.
- Location
- Russia
- Pronouns
- He/Him