At first Asoel stood back, watching as promised. However, as he got closer and recognized the young half elf, he couldn't control himself. He runs up, shouting the young elf's name. Upon reaching her, he tries to hold back her hand, preventing her from further harming herself. 

"Huwag! Mamamatay ka kung hindi mo ako sundan. Magingat ka. Huminga. Huminga," he says, comforting the girl in Elven, trying to get her to slow down, and breathe. 

Looking up at his comrades, he speaks in Common with urgency in his voice.

"We need to find a place where she can detox. If our earlier experience is any indication, it may already be too late. But I cannot face her family without saying that I tried."

((He'll try to provide what care he can, but of all his knowledge, healing certainly isn't his strong point. +2. If it is apparent such efforts are a waste of time or after such care is completed, he'll try to take her to a safe place of healing. k. local +4 to see if he knows a place more suitable than his own room, otherwise he'll take her there unless the others have a better plan.))

You hinted that Asoel had personal knowledge about this girl. Is this just alluding to the favored enemy bonus or does he actually recognize her?

Either way, heck yeah, Asoel will try to get her to a detox if she isn't too far gone. I'm waiting for the reply about my above question before writing up about him breaking stealth and approaching to say as much.

Oh final question. Did I notice anyone watching the group? If I noticed suspicious activity, Asoel will trust in the good nature (and effectively pray that he isn't putting forth false hope, since he doesn't know them well yet) of the group to try and get her to a detox, and he'll try to tail the characters as well as he can.

Edit: on a side note, thanks for inviting me to this. I'm loving this!

So did we ever get any results from Asoel's knowledge checks? He's watching the girl in the background but I haven't seen any replies which is why I haven't updated any posts. . .

Asoel, seeing Iaka and Yan, gave a discrete whistle and called the two near him.

"The trail has indeed gone completely cold," he said. "However I've managed to pinpoint Adamo's living area."

He passed on the information he got from the inn, and briefly described the banality of his evening of observation. For every problem or ambush a scout finds, there are days of trailblazing which reveal no such threats, so Asoel isn't too surprised that nothing turned up immediately.

Not surprised, no. But certainly not pleased. 

Upon hearing Iaka's plan to go to the seedier sides of town, Asoel nods in agreement as he finally bites into the plum from before. It seems like searching that area is best, and if Iaka seems confident in handling himself in that area, then Asoel offers a different type of scouting.

"Are either of you familiar with a 'rearward?'" He asked (if either answers in the negative, he gives this brief explanation). "Most everyone is famliar with the duties of the advance scout, he who walks ahead and searches for ambushes in the coming path. Less known is the rearward, the scout in the back who follows in the footsteps of the army, wary of the flank and always watching the watchers." 

He gives a meaningful look to both of them.

"Lead on. I shall be your rearward."

((Again Asoel will stealth and watch, this time from the back and with particular focus on anyone who shows interest in Iaka's and Yan's investigation. Should the two ever need his direct insight, he tells them they need only whistle and he'll close the gap. Perception +10 or 12 on humans, stealth +8, Sense motive +2 or +4)).

((Upon seeing the half elf, Asoel will still hang back hidden, but will try to stealth close enough to a vantage point where he can discern what he can. Knowledge Local check +4 to see if he recognizes him as an offspring of the Norwood, and/or any other pertinent information.))

((EDIT: Just realized half elves qualify as human for favored enemy. Know local etc. get a +2, so +6 total on that local check))

((Sorry, I thought I posted my update before everyone went to the inn, but it didn't stick. I'll redo it here, so some of it may jump back before that. EDIT: Since I copied what I had previously written, I wrote this before I read Schnozzle's post. In response to what he said, Asoel would have mentioned his signal whistle he carries for emergencies, and recommended the chalk signal to mark physical locations, and agree with whistling for auditory signals. Asoel, obviously, has no problem searching alone, but will accept company if the party refuses to split)).

Asoel looked at Adamo's body, disgusted by the process of death. Within nature, there was honor in the hunt, honor in fighting for your life. Among his past mercenary associates, though they fought for coin, they respected those who acted against them. There was no honor in this death, a man reduced by addiction to a heaping pile of blood. And now, seeing this, Asoel was nervous. 

This was the effect of the drug that was spreading. This was end result, yet still the poeple took it, craved it, couldn't stop using it. Asoel couldn't deny the pit now in his stomach. He wasn't too far from his own Norwood now. He'd hope the long-patient society of elves would be more resistant to the fleeting highs of such a drug. . . but he also knew his people. They were nearly as varied as the humans themselves, and if left unchecked, this drug could claim elven lives too. Pinaka-mahalaga ang paghuhuwag nito (This MUST be stopped). 

As others talked of going to the inn to rest and eat, Asoel asked some specific details about Adamo's location of arrest and general haunts and then lead his mule to the inn's stables. Flashing his badge, he requested a key and only took enough time to swiftly lock his gear into his room and tell the worker of the inn that he didn't want any cleaning service in there. 

As he saw his comrades gathering around the table, he merely put a plum in his belt pouch and leaned over the table.

"For all I know, by now Adamo's trail has gone cold, but I won't allow it to get any colder. I'm going out to do some reconnaissance work. Stay or join, it is up to you. If I find anything, I'll report back before acting." He passed on a few notes of his methods, drew a chalk mark on the table to show his compatriots how to find him, and then checked if any would follow. After their replies, he turned and left to investigate. 

((So here's how I see Asoel working. He's going to go out. He'll start looking for clues stealthily, beginning at the location of Adamo's arrest and working outwards until he finds any sort of trail or suspicious activity. If he finds any such trail, or even individual clues, he'll leave a chalk mark discretely on the closest wall to mark the location. If he sees suspicious activity, he'll stealth and observe what he can, even climbing onto roofs if necessary, but will leave if approaching solo becomes too much risk, again marking the location. If nothing comes organically, he'll regroup with any group members that stayed at the inn and work out a plan to canvass the locals. Pertinent checks: Survival to discover / follow tracks starting with Adamo's and then anyone else suspicious +6, Perception +10, Sense Motive for seeing suspicious activity +2, Stealth +8, Climb, if necessary, +10. EDIT: Nearly forgot favored enemy. If any of the sense motive, perception, or survival checks involve humans, +2))

Well done. Excited to move on. And I'm suddenly very glad I didn't taste test the drug

Asoel gave a sigh of relief that someone was taking initiative. However, now expecting much to come of this, Asoel was itchinig to go into his element. All this waiting around didn’t sit well with him. Bale, ang tulog na isda, tinatangay ng agos (After all, the sleeping shrimp is carried away in the current). Gumalaw na! (Now is the time to stir).

The track. The hunt. That is the action that Asoel desired.

Asoel watched carefully, not wanting to miss any part of Adamo’s reaction. However, while he could, he also carefully observed the clothing of the man before him. He tried to pick up on any aspect that would aid him in following the man’s tracks. Not knowing how frequented the roads are, there was always the possiblity the trail has gone cold. Yet Asoel observed the creases in the leather of the man’s shoes, the color and texture of the man’s colthing. You never know when a snagged piece of cloth or a footprint can lead to the quarry. For now Asoel watched, but he was truly itching to search.

((Perception +10 to notice anything that will aid his +6 survival checks he’ll be taking later, sense motive +2 if Adamo does anything))

Just wondering if anyone has an immediate plan of action. Not much seems to have happened in the thread in a couple weeks.

Asoel watched on in disappointment, thinking to himself. Bakit ba matahimk siya? (Why must he be so quiet?). Hmmm kaunte lang and alam ko tukol sa situwesung niya (There is little I know about his predicament). Basta, hangga't makitid ang kumot, matutong mamaluktot (Oh well, when the blanket is short, learn how to bend). 

He called over his new associates, whispering to them quietly.

Listen, I'm not the best at conducting interviews, but I do know that people with a heavy threat over them can often be motivated to help if there is the shadow of further threat or the light of the hope of release. From my legal experience, I know that Adamo is in a particularly dire set of circumstances. Even if his victim survives, he could be facing long prison time, and his family can be subject to a heavy fine. . . However, offenders who turn out to be helpful may be let off with merely having to pay reparations to the victim. Use that if you go the sweet route. However, if the victim of his assault dies, he will almost certainly be executed for murder. Now executions come in varied levels of pain depending on the offense and the helpfulness of the accused. . . If the threat of painful death doesn't wake him up, then we might as well move on. 

((Profession Barrister came through with some useful information!))

I do agree. I want to try to get what we can out of him. My main issue is that Asoel is fairly good at a broad spectrum of general knowledge, but he was limited on skill points, so I don't feel comfortable leading any sort of conversation. Besides, he's trained as a scout. Its much more in character to stand back, watch, guage, observe, and pass on observations. Hence my post about all the different checks he'll make.

Haven't seen anything come of those checks yet though. For the moment, I'm just withholding from posting to see what develops, as that is what Asoel is doing in character.

Asoel was a bit disappointed but not surprised that he couldn’t determine more than the unnatural origin of the drug. His insights didn’t always kick in, and this drug seemed new and confusing enough to Jirolin that there is no reason he should have been able to find any more. But still. . .

He quietly passes on his observations to those in the room, emphasizing the strange fact that it smells natural, yet most certainly isn’t. Maybe one of the others could add insight. At this stage, Asoel doesn’t mind sharing. He doesn’t yet know personally his associates’ backgrounds or motivations, but having worked with mercenaries in the past (indeed, having been one himself), he assumed the promise of reward drew them in. Not a problem at all for him, as the reward he was after was the establishment of a bridge of peace.

As the group walked towards the cell, Asoel made up his mind that he would start, at least, just observing. Allow the others to take the lead, Asoel will observe and see if he had anything on his person or if he could read this Ulfa in a way which would reveal where to look next. Mulling over what he already knows, Asoel recommends that we use this interview to find where he purchased the drugs.

((Asoel will make perception and knowledge checks on Ulfa upon seeing him and as the others interact with him, he’ll continue to do sense motive checks. Perception and knowledge checks will be to notice any physical symptoms that could be brought about by the drug, so if you want my Heal mod is +2. I”ll also be looking for any signs, rare though they may be, that could possible lead to his whereabouts between his work and being apprehended. Once the interview commences, he’ll watch closely with sense motive, and try to quitely tell the others if he suspects him of lying.

If Ulfa is human, favored enemy kicks in. +12 perception, +4 knowledge, +4 sense motive, and aforementioned +2 heal, and +4 profession barrister just in case legal insight will help))

Drugs? Pushers? Mas bagay ito sa akin (Yes, this is more my style), Asoel thought to himself. Not unlike hunting a large cat; my quarry is predatious, stealthy, and best tracked by following the carnage left in its wake. His mind traveled to simpler times, to successes in the hunt, the thrill of tracking just such a predator, the adrenaline of spear versus claws. Yes, this style of diplomacy suited him better. If he was going to participate in public relations, let it be the public relations that may let him draw his spear. 

Motioning to Jirolin, Asoel requests to see the flux and examine it more closely. Trying to be careful not to subject himself to the drug, nevertheless he focuses on getting as much information as possible from it. He holds it close to his face, noting the structure, feels its hardness, notes whether it is brittle or strong, warily sniffs it, and even asks Jirolin if a tiny chip would be safe to put on the tongue and immediately spit out, since flavors are often a dynamic clue to a drug's nature.

((Note: He won't taste it though if this puts him at risk of getting high. Asoel's perception is +10, if you are rolling rather than taking 20)). 

Then, Asoel closes his eyes and ponders over his discoveries, mind flitting and making connections. He thinks over the drug in his hands, trying to tie anything at all within his knowledge to the colorful crystal. A century of lessons learned in odd jobs to save his family from financial ruin knit together, pertinent information highlighted and analyzed. Then came the insights that Asoel himself couldn't explain, the glimpses and ideas which he'd been growing to trust more as he grew older. It has always been as if Asoel had learned more life lessons than this life should have afforded him, and this ability was both his enigma and pride. Hopefully now it would be to his benefit to learn something, anything about this drug.

((Ok, so I'm just gonna list any and all knowledge and profession checks which may remotely tie to this sort of examination. Feel free to ignore anything that simply doesn't connect. I know you have my character sheet, but for simplicity all these checks are at a +4 except knowledge nature which is +8.

K nature +8, K arcana, K dungeoneering (it may be a natural underground crystal?), K Local (for if I've heard of anything similar or know of any likely suspects), K planes (demonic drugs? I know they exist in some books, so why not check?), K history (has a simillar drug been known of before?), P Herbalist, P Brewer, P Cook, P Miner, and P merchant (maybe I recognize an ingredient). If non-common profession checks are allowed, P Apothecary. Sorry for all the crazy rolls, but that's the fun of my character and his feat  If you can let me know what checks, if any, lead to any information, I'll add that to my rp in my response.))

That answers my question. I also like the change that Asoel is an advance representative for the real diplomats. Makes more sense for his background and training, and it really would push him to seek out this opportunity which is more his style. Awesome, thanks.

So I just realized that I'm not sure how to go about making a roll in play by post. May seem like a dumb question, but how do you guys handle this in the thread? I'm loving the focus and roleplay and don't want to ruin the immersion. 

I ask because my character took the feat Breadth of Experience and will want to examine the flux with anything that is pertinent (knowledge nature, arcana, history, local, heck even planes in case this crystal comes from another plane, profession herbalist, brewer for the tea aspects, etc.). 

On a side note specifically for the GM, Asoel came to the town for the peace talks I've mentioned in character. When is his first meeting scheduled, as that will influence my next post. I see Asoel as the guy to definately arrive early, but I'll let you decide if "early" is an hour or a couple days. 

Sorry for the uber newbie posts, I'll pick it up eventually. I'm already enjoying this so much

Just to clarify, are you saying that each PC should choose a specific color for their character when they talk? Or are we going to form an established system of formatting, say, descriptive text vs thoughts vs dialogue in general?

I'm fine with whatever we choose. Sorry, I'm the new guy to play by post, this being my first time. I didn't think about formatting for my first post at all, but I'm willing to do whatever is best and I'll go back and edit my post to make it conform.

If it is we each pick a color, Asoel will use olive and I like just basic text being red for simplicity.

Out of character Note: edited and expanded after seeing how the others wrote out things before the meeting. Have patience with me! I'm new to pbp and not sure what's going on.

As Asoel walked along the path towards the town, his mule accompanied him, loaded with the typical retinue of gear he’d recently been accustomed to carrying. HIs duties didn’t require them particularly of course, but Asoel preferred to be prepared. His thoughts were to his assignment.

Di akong sugo, (I’m no diplomat) he thought. Pero, dito ako (Yet here I am).

He continued this line of thought as he walked on. He certainly was no master of words, yet he had been selected. He would serve to his best of his ability, for the good of Norwood, of course. He wouldn’t have been selected if he had nothing to offer. Yet he wished there were a way to apply his more practiced skills to this mission of peace. . .

That’s when he saw the poster.

A grin came out onto his face. A call for adventurers? A threat on Chandar? That sounds more his speed

Asoel looked up at the sky to judge the time. He’d left early and arrived early. Yes, he had time. Perhaps helping out this Jirolin will give him an edge in his mission. And even if not, it at least sounds fun.

*Asoel secures his mule to a post in a manner more reminiscent to his Alabaster upbringing than his Elven heritage. Hel steps toward Jirolin, arms held in the Elven sign of peace*

“Mabuhay po sa inyo!” ( “Live Great, sir!” ) “And greetings from Norwood. I am Asoel, official representative for the upcoming logging treaties. I saw your notice requesting help. My mission is one of peace, so to show the sincerity of the Norwood and start our treaties with an attitude of mutual appreciation, I wish to offer my aid. As long as this request doesn’t conflict with my official schedule, I will do all I can to help solve your problem. How might I be of service?”