[Game Thread] The First Steps are the Easiest

[MCP]

It is the first day of your tenure as a true Pathfinder. Your leather journals held firmly in-hand, your fellow initiates-come-guildmates breaking away to speak to one another in jovial tones, you are given the opportunity to do the same with any friends you have made in your time here. That is cut short, however, when the uncompromising Ambrus Valsin speaks up. He is a tall and regal Keleshite male, easily identified not only by his choice of very utilitarian garb for his position as steward of the Grand Lodge but his smartly-waxed handlebar moustache that ranges over his ruddy visage into mutton chops that swing up to his sparsely-haired head.

"Alright. No time to dawdle about and party the night away, you're Pathfinders and there are initiates who now look up to you." He speaks with the sharp, slightly phlegmatic accent that comes with those who speak the common tongue from true Kelesh birthplaces. Valsin is always griped about by the initiates, you being included, as he's stubborn and very rarely is kind to the rookies among the Pathfinders. That attitude never really improves toward the more troublemaking members of the Society and they most often find themselves with the most tedious assignments. "You are to set an example not only to them but to the people of Absalom. I'll not have any of you brought back here in a barrow with a note on your sleeve about your tab at any local tavern." Handed a scroll from a pageboy holding a few documents meant to be perused and signed to affirm position of full members, he opens it. "Aboro, Phaya and Hullbottom are to report to Shevala Iorae for your first assignment as a team. Raboud, Bronzeheel, al-Muldyn, Gautmahn and Thorntopple are to report to Kreighton Shaine for assignment. I am told it is a special one at that." A low smirk does belie the true nature of such a venture, though, the Steward nodding and turning smartly on his heel to walk into the main building from the courtyard. The three formerly mentioned Pathfinders (A Chelish Sorceress, a Half-Elven Cleric of Pharasma and a Gnomish vagabond) find one-another and begin conversing regarding the upcoming assignment.

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The air around you is cold, the dead of winter gripping the city of Absalom. You've been given the night off with free rein to venture into the city to celebrate, albeit responsibly. Spare coin can be used to buy last-minute baubles or simply fritter away on drink and amorous pursuits. The Foreign Quarter supplies many taverns and cantinas, with more specialized and ethnic ones to be found in the Osiriani or Chelish "villages" that have sprung up where people of certain national descent have developed their own communities.

OOC Feel free to do what you like, get to know each other and go out to have a good time before you are sent out tomorrow morning. This first part is to introduce everyone, do good descriptions, establish how your character acts. You obviously know each other by name and face, but it's entirely up to you how well you know one-another before being put together for this venture. The Ascendant Court, the Ivy District, Westgate and the docks are closeby but they do impose higher costs on non-residents of the city.

[Finder of Paths]

Though dwarfed by almost everyone in the mingling crowd, it is hard to miss Neji Bronzeheel. The little gnome has an eccentric look at the best of times, but in celebration of her graduation has gone all out. As usual she is positively bristling with pockets, pouches and belts stuffed with all manner of reagents and vials full of strange, glowing liquids. Of course the little gnome is also wearing that ragged old backpack with the hole in one corner that never seems to leave her side, not even during mealtimes. The difference today however is her hair, suddenly in two neat ponytails instead of the usual short, spiky mess of hair that is a different colour every week. How she managed to grow that much hair overnight is completely unknown to you, but it's more than likely a result of her constant alchemy experimentations. The main part of her hair is currently a bright green, but the pony tails themselves go through a rainbow of colours from scalp to tip.

During the graduation ceremony Neji was visibly shaking with excitement, and the odd giggle escaped from her red lips every so often, only to be quickly silenced by a nudge from the person next to her. Now however she's standing on the tops of her toes, trying to see past the mingling pathfinders to find the Kreighton Shaine or any of the other new guild members who had their names called in tandem with hers. The little gnome bats irritably at the pony tails whenever they touch her face, eliciting a small frown as if they are causing her a great annoyance or disappointment. Though how the alchemist with her eccentric love of bright colours could be disappointed with her hair showing the entire rainbow and more is confusing to all those who know her.

OOC: If you picture Neji as little gnome with wacky hair and covered with all manner of alchemical items and a ratty old backpack you've got her perfect. And if your character thinks of her like a little sister that can really get on your nerves, but you love her to death anyway, that's exactly how Neji wants you to think of her...of course that's not up to Neji, is it? Feel free to roleplay whatever link to Neji you like, and I'll play along and build the relationship with you. I love roleplay between party members, and came here to DnDOG to get more of it, as my tabletop group is more the KICK IN THE DOOR, ROLL INITIATIVE!! type.

[Elucidus]

Desi runs over to Neji, "Well at least you put it up this time." She jests. Desi is slightly shorter than Neji, a halfling, bright and colorful as well. Her hair still long and jet black, has teh purple streak in it since the days any of you met her. She insists it is natural, but that can't be possible, probably just a habit for her to maintain. She is wearing a sleveless, blue dress with an embroidered rose on the chest covering her right breast. The stem of the rose grows down her right side switching sides at the waist. She wears a pair of black heels that actually allow her to stand slightly taller than Neji. She has make up on her that accentuates her looks.

"You look like you are ready to burst, Nej. You gonna be alright." The smile on her face goes from ear to ear, she does a quick little shuffle with her feet that put her on the other side of Neji.

OOC Same thing goes for me. Desi is a very friendly outgoing halfling who loves to entertain. She loves singing and dancing.

[Chiima]

Inaya's milky eyes move over the crowd with disconcerting alertness for someone who looks blind. They settle first on the cheerful mutual bouncing of the two teamed up smallfolk, and then look for the rest of her new partners.

"Kamir, it looks like we'll be working together," the oracle calls, lips curved in a smile for her fellow countryman. They part to show white teeth in a grin as Inaya picks out Gian Gautmahn. "I think they must have paired you up with Bronzeheel and Thorntopple just to balance out your size, Gautmahn. You know how Scrolls and Lore always talked about balance." The woman nods towards Desi and Neji, and more sedately moves to join them. She doesn't seem put off any by their excitement, just a little more cautious about what her mother would have termed 'flailing about'.

[Finder of Paths]

Neji's smile lifts a little bit as Desi approaches her, but still bats at one of the pig tails. With a pouting frown she sighs "I think I used a pinch of kalerite instead of gelrite this morning. I was trying to make orange dye!" as if this perfectly explains what caused her rapid hair growth. "The worst thing is I can't even work out how I did it again!" Playing one hand through the long hair, she pulls it infront of her eyes "Though it is nice to be able to put more colours into it." Despite her complaining, you can see Neji's mood has lifted considerably now that Desi has moved to join her, she can't help but think of the halfling like one of the sisters she left behind in Alkenstar.

OOC: Haha, Neji and Desi, I get the feeling I'm going to be mixing up the names and end up with posts about Deji and Nesi before long!

[DineDel]

Kamir slowly strokes his beard with a smile in response to Inaya's comment. He leaves the wall he had been leaning against the entire ceremony and walks along with the Oracle towards the shorter fellows.

ar-Ryah, the trained hawk, jumps from his position in the ceiling and after a short flight around the place lands on his master's arm staring at the colorful gnome with fear.

"Calm down, my friend" Kamir says petting the bird, and looking at the alchemist he adds with a smile "Neji has already understood that you don't want to be purple, right?"

[Elucidus]

"Oh c'mon," Desi agrues, "Purple is so pretty." She runs her hand through her own purple streak with a very large smile on her face.

[MCP]

The other Pathfinders seem to agree to head off and discuss issues, and it has grown rather cold out with the sun having begun to set. Perhaps it would be best if you went inside at least, and then were to agree on where to celebrate.

[Finder of Paths]

Seeing everybody else begin filing from the hall, Neji grabs Desi's arm and starts walking away. "Come on guys, everyone else is leaving!" As the pair walked past Kamir and ar-Ryah she waves a hand at the hawk, and grins widely "How about a green birdy?" As Desi gets dragged further and further away from the others, Neji turns back and yells "Come on guys, I'm sure Gian is already leaving to find someone cool to go!" The gnome's attitude has changed dramatically from disappointed at her hair, to a little excited ball of energy at the prospect of celebrating in one of Absalom's many fine establishments.

[Chiima]

"I once had the experience," Inaya confides as the two smallfolk move further away. "Of observing aloud that I had 'never seen such colors' before to Neji. Mind, this was in Spells, and we were exploring the perils of Color Spray traps, so you can imagine what I was experiencing at the time." The keleshite woman taps a finger against the bridge of her nose, between milky eyes. Or possibly indicating her brain. It was Color Spray traps.

"I don't know excactly what it was that happened next, but I'm almost certain it was Neji, and, well... Remember the Prismatic Salad Incident?" Inaya arches a brow in a question - she hadn't been especially close to the others she is now teamed with, and can't quite remember when they were all away from the lodge on their final tests. "Anyway. Purple and green are positively civilized..."

Louder, to try and catch the Halfling and Gnome moving further off, and possibly other friends she had in the crowd, the oracle calls: "So! This is where it's traditional to go size each other up over liquor before the first mission, right?" Ambrus Valsin's warning had to have been inspired by something, right?

[Elucidus]

"Who needs liquor"" the halfling calls back. Also a great ball of energy. "Stay with the group, " she jests. Her own hair changing colors very quickly before again settling on her normal silky black with the purple stripe through it.

[DineDel]

ar-Ryah lets out a screech and flies away as everybody laughs at Neji's comment "Hawk... Not parrot" adds laughing Kamir.

Before entering again into the building, Kamir takes out a piece of rich sewn cloth and extends it in the floor. Then he kneels on it and taking his pendant with both hands dedicates a routine prayer to his goddess asking for the sun to raise again tomorrow for him. Done that, he stands up and recovers his cloth before joining everyone inside.

[corporealself]

Gian Gautmahn, dressed smartly in black leather with a red trim and a fine white silk shirt, kept his peace during the ceremony. It was difficult to be sure. He'd been arranged to stand next to Bronzeheel and the gnome seemed to have no concept of a dignified ceremony. She just kept damnably bouncing in place. He'd even had to nudge her more than once to try and curb some of her enthusiasm.

It was a little embarrassing and Gian already felt uncomfortable enough. Up on a stage, in front of a crowd of people he stayed soldier stiff with his chin slightly upturned, feeling the eyes boring into him the entire time. Though he didn't say it, Gian wished he could have worn his armor or tucked his scimitar into his belt. He felt naked without either, but he endured and breathed a hidden sigh of relief when he was given leave to find his new traveling companions. This relief turned to apprehension again as he found the Neji and Desi cavorting together.

Desi was quite enough on her own, Gian thought as he gazed impassively, but to add the slip...

...the halfling, Gian corrected himself. The gods only know what kind of trouble they'll get into.

Gian's gloom abated a bit as a clear and cultured voice that could only belong to Inaya broke Desi and Neji's chatter. While Gian didn't smile, his omnipresent frown enforcing it's authority on his face, he did have the sense to acknowledge the joke with a nod of his head. A nod that that shifted into a nod of greeting towards Kamir as he approached.

"I doubt that balance will be the greatest of our concerns once we have been assigned our task. Let's retire inside, the weather out here is colder than a welcome from the winged men of Devil's Perch."

[Chiima]

"I can't say I've ever been happy to be cold," Inaya agrees with Gian, as she continues inside the lodge. Kamir's prayer at the setting sun does catch her attention, and the Quadira native drops her head in a moment of respectful silence. No prayer cloths or such however. It's true that, growing up in Absalom, Inaya's devotions have a bit less of the stop-drop-and-roll immediacy to them that Sarenrae receives in her homeland. But there's also the notable issue of being completely unable to see the setting sun to pay respect at the right moment.

She reaches the door behind most of the crowd that's already gone inside, and holds it open for the rest of the team. "Whatever our greatest concern is, we don't have to worry until tomorrow. One last night!"

[Finder of Paths]

"Yup!" Neji says with a smile in answer to both Gian and Quadira and continues to move inside, Desi in tow. She lets out a little gasp as the halfling changes her hair colour "No matter how many times I see that, it's still so cool....I wish I could do it." Most gnomes are capable of at least some innate magical power, but despite her ability to infuse a little bit of her own power into alchemical creations, Neji can't make lights appear or clean herself magically. A bit of a sore spot really, but being able to make potions that do the same thing are almost as good!

OOC: For the record, Neji = Gnome Alchemist (Me) and Desi = Halfling Bard/Pathfinder Chronicler (Euclidus) Also, I'm ready to get drunk and RP more, or move on, whatever.