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Finding the Spark (Pathfinder 1E Quest)

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I'd go to the surface for sure. But do we have to follow Gorok to his trbe? We can likely designate a meeting point and go about our own business, rather than wait for him in Cauldron.

[x] Accompany him to the surface to deliver the lore of smith-craft to his tribe
 
Nevill said:
I'd go to the surface for sure. But do we have to follow Gorok to his trbe? We can likely designate a meeting point and go about our own business, rather than wait for him in Cauldron.

[x] Accompany him to the surface to deliver the lore of smith-craft to his tribe
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Yeah, that's my thought as well. Just because we might need to avoid his tribe doesn't mean we can't travel with Gorok for 99% of the journey.
 
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Arc 3 Post 4: Of Steel, Silk and Shadow
  • Threadmarks
    • Of Steel, Silk and Shadow ​

    Season of Rushing Waters

    Resolved to follow Gorok to the surface your company of four (or five or six depending on how one is inclined to count Pepper and Warty) makes its way down the tunnels which until recently had been the site of ambush and counter, ambush so vicious that sometimes bodies had been left to lie where they fell and the usual run of slurpers and scurrying things have not made a meal of them. Mia quietly insists that you gather up what you can to burn. As the reddish glow of the flames warms the skin of your face and hands you wonder if you should explain why you had not felt the need to eat as much at that stop... No, you tell yourself, no sense ruining the triumph.

    And a triumph it undoubtedly had been, if there was any doubt of that the relieves looks on the furred, scaled and patchwork faces of the guards who climbing down from prepared positions to greet you put paid to them. The war had been won, the settlement would not be strangled by raiders, starved and picked clean as so many others had been. With guides who know their way around this stretch of tunnels you are soon back in the expansive environs of the Long Walk, no longer needing to crouch or crawl though muddy water to make it though.

    While you would not go so far as to say the reek of Cauldron's waters is welcome all of you pick up the pace when it reaches your nostrils.

    "Is that... are they cheering us?" Mina asks, looking as flummoxed as you feel. "I guess we helped out, but it wasn't like... We were doing it to help Gorok and we got some treasure out of it as well and this." She motions at vaguely at the ceiling with her elf-made staff, the air humming with indistinct whispers as she does so. "Seems a bit much."

    "It was of great worth to them. Why should they not show their appreciation?" Gorok looks back at the pair of you confused.

    Cob meanwhile has thrown his chest out and started strutting so much that it got Warty to imitate him. The slurk had filled his throat pouch, smaller than it would normally be on an amphibian of his size on account of the tusks, but still impressive.

    "Did you ever get the sense that he is a lot wiser than he looks?" you ask Mina motioning to your Goblin companion.

    "Well the alternative is that I'm a lot more foolish than I look so yes," she answers ruefully.

    As much as kind words might warm the soul the people of Cauldron have more in store for you than that, literally in store as it happens. This is a trading settlemtnt after all and while the foreign merchants and those who could afford to move shop had already done so in the rush preceding your departure, those stubborn few who lingered are most thankful, enough so to offer some of their most precious wears to the elders of the town at a discount to reward the slayers of Sshesh. Or to put it another way they would like some fresh coin before trade resounds down the Long Walk and the Elders had pooled the gold to both keep them in business while keeping 'Gorok's Raiders' sweet. Not that you would be so churlish as to complain...

    First there is a suit of what the merchant in question calls Steelskin, the preferred garb of rangers and assassins among Droskar's children, heavy enough to shed the blows from an orc's war-axe and yet light enough that even you might freely wear it. He also claims that the thing had been in his possession for years and no dwarf had some after him with murder in their eye. That you doubt and Elder Lorak quietly agrees with you. "Keep your cloak closed around them and your a blade close." the mouthless magician sends

    The second is a colorful shawl made of blended silk which Mina marks as being of Varisian make, that is of her own people or their kindred far off, a valuable protection for the road, not without its perils. Tales she heard as a girl speak of such shawls being stolen and then used to lay frightful curses upon their former bearer. Still the notion of being stabbed in the heart an not dying appeals to you right down to your core.

    Lastly there is... a weapon you recognize all too well. The black steel drinks greedily of the feeble light of the tavern, but you know its power is greatest in darkness, its blessing as the Canticle of the Dark says. Such weapons pass in and out of the tales of the greatest heroes of the Caligini as befit their courage, their cunning and their wit, the deeper the dark you keep it in the harder it cuts, but as you reach out for the polished bone hilt almost instinctively you feel a tingling at the back of your neck as though you are in the sights of a hunter ready to pounce.

    Akorian Spellcraft: 1d20 +6 = 23 (Success)

    At first you think it is a mind within, a sword with a soul for you had heard tales told of living weapons and being tools made for killing most are cruel and bloody things, but Elder Lorak does not know of any such power to the sword. "Surla is a reliable sort, wouldn't sell blood-drunk blades, much less offer them as a reward to those who helped preserve his livelihood. Perhaps it is just some affinity in your blood, for it like you is born of shadows."

    "Your choice to make," Gorok interjects. "I have what I wanted from the xulgath, Mina has her staff Cob his armor." He ignores the curious look the elder gives at this proclamation, as you had of course not brought that thing into an inn.

    The others nod along, though it is clear Mina does mutter: "Better something to keep trouble away than draw it to us."

    Choose One:

    [] Fussing Mountain Pattern Armour +1
    This set of Duergar Armor consists of hundreds of small, interlocking pieces of steel shaped to resemble an ancient symbol for the word "mountain." The mail is then riveted to a cloth or leather backing that feels strangely warm against the skin. When the word 'Dum', obey in the dark dwarf tongue is spoken while wearing it the armor wraps around the bearer all the tighter allowing them to move with freedom beyond even what the extraordinary skill of dwarf smiths would allow

    [] Shawl of Life-Keeping
    Though this colorful silk shawl provides no protection it seemingly has the power to preserve the life of its bearer against grievous injury, so long as it is fed an appropriate amount of their blood at least. The bloodstains of various freshness in which it is covered attest to the fact that the protection is not absolute though

    [] Gloom Blade
    As shadows grow so does the bite of this short sword grow deeper. Had a strange Caligini walked into the Caves of Zul bearing such a blade you know he would have been given all honors for it is the mark of heroes cunning and bold.

    For all the power and the history in the blade there is a watchful presence in it

    OOC: Some interesting background rolls this time around.
     
  • Threadmarks
    • The armor is nice, but we've already got decent armor and our Cloak of Darkness Revelation, which also provides an AC bonus. The shawl could be a lifesaver, but I'm not a fan of the mechanic it uses and the built-in weakness. We've also got pretty good healing available in our party.

    The Gloom Blade, on the other hand, is proper Caligini treasure, even If we aren't proficient in its use just yet. DP has always let his characters learn weapon proficiency through training without investing feats, so this isn't a serious issue, IMO. Gorok can help us learn to use it as time permits. The blade will also be useful in the dark, where we're most likely to be fighting. Most importantly, it's heavily implied to either be sentient or have the potential to develop sentience.

    [X] Gloom Blade
     
    Well, the armor would be a considerable bonus, now, but loose value as our Cloak of Darkness grows better.

    Also it's bad for sneaking, even with the penalty reduced.

    I guess we could keep it in storage for big fights, where more AC is more valuable than all other details.

    The Shawl is okay.

    The Sword would be pretty cool, and I like the mystery-box, but we are not much of a melee-fighter, it might be better for Cob.

    [X] Fussing Mountain Pattern Armour +1

    For the next 4 levels this armor will have a 3 points higher bonus to AC than our magical Cloak of Darkness, so it will be worth wearing whenever open battle can't be avoided and sneakiness isn't a concern. Good enough for me.
     
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    [X] Gloom Blade

    Blind fight in deeper darkness is useless for us, but I like it anyway. We need to learn a lesser spell of darkness next level up though. Right now we can't lower the light level by ourselves
     
    [X] Gloom Blade

    If we ignore all the other benefits, not taking the blade would be super out of character since its a treasure for the MC and his race.
     
    Tomcost said:
    So, @Goldfish , do you have something in mind we can buy here before going to the surface?
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    Food, travel supplies that wouldn't have been relevant in the Darklands like tents, maybe something like sunglasses if we can find a pair for Kori, plus things like potions if they're available, Alchemical stuff, etc. If there are any low level spell scrolls available, finding something to expand Mina's repertoire a bit could be helpful, too.

    We also need to try to exchange some Darklands currency for the stuff regularly used on the surface, if at all possible.
     
    Goldfish said:
    Food, travel supplies that wouldn't have been relevant in the Darklands like tents, maybe something like sunglasses if we can find a pair for Kori, plus things like potions if they're available, Alchemical stuff, etc. If there are any low level spell scrolls available, finding something to expand Mina's repertoire a bit could be helpful, too.

    We also need to try to exchange some Darklands currency for the stuff regularly used on the surface, if at all possible.
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    Gold is gold from what Mina tells you, most merchants will just weigh it, at least outside of places like Cheliax where they will still weigh it and they charge you more because you are not paying in the coin of the realm.
     
    Tough choice. All items are good.

    We could use a bit more punch, but then we aren't that great of a fighter. The Shawl would be my second-best choice; I don't find its drawbacks significant as the circumstances are too specific for it to be a constant consideration. But take a few more levels and raise the HP, and we'd no longer be a two-hit wonder, reducing the usefulness. The armor, though, now that's a universally valuable investment.

    [x] Fussing Mountain Pattern Armour +1
     
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