Siriel

Some time ago, a crack team of roleplayers were gathered in order to run a Pathfinder campaign. Yesterday, the stars aligned and the campaign started. I can thus begin posting game logs, edited for readability.
I am the game master, the players are free to reveal their identity or remain under the cloak of secrecy as they desire. They are Bhakti, a half-giant, Eirene, a half-elf noblewoman and Laindir, an elf.
Italics = Text written for this blog. Parentheses = OOC chat. Underlined = Roll result.

GM: You are in the kingdom of Raerion, an agglomeration of the once separate domains of dwarves, humans and elves that was formed 500 years ago when an ancient dragon attempted to exterminate most humanoid races.
Raerion is a large and fairly isolated country, surrounded by high mountains to the North that prevent easy passage and the ocean to the South and East. As such, contact with other countries is extremely limited.
Though a single kingdom, Raerion is actually divided into several city-states that are only nominally governed by the king. Its identity as a kingdom is mostly kept to discourage civil wars and invaders, chief among which are the various clans that live to the West of the kingdom and occasionally launch minor offensives against its borders.
The various clans to the West of Raerion are in large part composed of the descendants of those who sided with the ancient dragon during the war, mostly goblinoid species but also a small number of humans. As a result, demi-orcs and their ilks are typically looked at with suspicion in Raerion.
In gameplay terms, the plane that Raerion is positioned on is relatively weak in terms of supernatural and as such the mighty creatures that are usually expected are mostly absent – indeed, the last dragon was killed centuries ago. Powerful magic is scarce, though low-level magical items are still a fairly common sight. To give an idea, legendary warriors are situated around level 15.
However, the plane is closer than usual to the plane of Negative Energy, which has resulted in the peculiar phenomenon that undead creatures in Raerion never die when their Necromancer does; they merely become uncontrolled creatures that seek to destroy all life. As a result the study of Necromancy is only allowed under the control of the government.

You begin play in the small village of Barovia, which is located on the border between Raerion and the uncivilized lands, inhabited by some 200 souls. Its villagers are obligated to take at least a year training as town guards due to the frequent attack by bandits, but even taking that into consideration its military strength is fairly minimal and the garrison is poorly disciplined aside from the three professional officers that lead it. They are assigned by the village's lord to make sure that it remains under control, rotating every few years to ensure that they don't get emotionally attached to the place.

Due to its unfortunate situation, the villagers are wary of strangers in general, though they tend to be respectful toward anyone who shows signs of wealth.

(Eirene: Is it a fancy inn befitting of a noblewoman? :P
GM: Unfortunately not, your majesty. The village is actually fairly destitute due to its position near the border.
Eirene: Well gee, guess I'll just drink my tea IRL and do my best to pretend.
Bhakti : I have trashy orange soda so it evens out)

GM: So Laindir is in the village for a reason that should be obvious to him; currently resting at the inn since he arrived yesterday.
Bhakti, you're fairly new in town as well, having been given authorization by the mayor to stay there in exchange for your service as a guard against the occasional brigands, something that the townspeople are fairly unhappy with due to your heritage.

(Bhakti : That 7 CHA is working wonders I see.)

Laindir: Laindir is sitting at the Inn's bar trying to get the bartender's attention.
"Hey barkeep. Hey!" Laindir raises his voice to get his attention.
GM: After a few moment of delay that Laindir could swear is on purpose the innkeeper (a rather large man, though more from food than exercise) turns his away.
"Something I can do for you stranger?"
Laindir had of course introduced himself when buying the room, but it seemed that stranger was simply how he would be addressed here.
Laindir: "A flagon of ale if you please" Laindir said trying to hide his grumpy mood, the innkeeper's attitude didn't help matters. "And while you're at it, do you know of any expeditions to the west?"
GM: "Of course."
Gesturing to the maid to begin serving his drink, he blinked in surprise at Laindir's next words.
"An expedition? Of course not, nobody goes into the savage lands. Well, except for madmen like that Bhakti person."

(Bhakti : WOOOOOOOOW.
Siriel (GM): You picked a half-giant, deal with it.
Eirene: So Bhakti's got quite a reputation.
Bhakti : That's racist.)

Laindir: "Bhakti? What can you tell me of this 'mad man'?"
GM: "Bah, he's some insane wanderer who showed up a few weeks ago, and for some inane reason the mayor allowed him to stay." He frowned, appearing somewhat concerned. "I wouldn't get too close to him He looks like he could snap a man in half with one hand and who knows were he came from, not the sort that a proper Raers should become involved with if you ask me."
Laindir: "Snap a man in half? What is he a giant or something?" Laindir said jokingly with a laugh.
GM: "He might be, though he's not as big as the legends say. I've certainly never seen any proper human that big at least."
Laindir: "Well this I gotta see! Where could I find this beast of a man?" Laindir starts drinking from the flagon.
GM: The frown returned, and Laindir had the distinct impression that it wasn't out of concern this time, though the innkeeper apparently decided it wasn't his problem and shrugged. "He typically stays near the west entrance."

(Laindir: Is Eirine in the same room as I am at the moment or just somewhere in the Inn, in her room?
GM: Your call on if you're in the common room or your own, Eirene.
Laindir:What time of day is it?)GM: Early afternoon. The common room is almost empty, which is why the innkeeper just stayed and chatted with you.
Eirene: I kinda doubt Eirene would be in the common room then, since she'd probably attract attention with her guardsman.)

Laindir: "Thanks for the information." I finish my flagon of ale and give the innkeeper a silver for his trouble. "You've been most helpful."
Laindir moves to leave the tavern to head towards the west entrance to see if he could meet this Bhakti.

End scene

Bhakti : The scenery of Barovia was not exemplary. It wasn't a stunning mountain range or anything akin to the vast glades I'd seen elsewhere and put onto a canvas to be remembered. But the people here lived on with few complaints that I had heard of, and the coziness of the place was something foreign yet grand to me, deserving of a place in my heart. I can't deny that the occasional weird or angry look I've gotten is sort of unpleasant, though.
I wander about on the spot impatiently. Father always taught me patience, but I think even he'd find something like standing around watching the walls decay on nearby buildings boring.
I think I'll calm down if I paint a little. I don't have a vantage point to paint the town from, so the surrounding grasslands will do.
I sit myself down onto the grass and pull my tools and a fresh canvas out of my bag. This will do good.

(Bhakti: Gonna roll that craft skill now.
1d20+6 = 9
GM: It begins.
Bhakti : Anyway tell me how garbage my painting turns out.)

GM: Perhaps due to his boredom Bhakti's painting ended up quite bad, though it was still salvageable enough to not look like an utter mess. In fact, instead of an unlucky failure by a talented artist, it looked more like the first try of an amateur, which was arguably worse than a complete failure in some ways.

Laindir: As Laindir leaved the inn his bad mood returned when he took another look at this /town/ , at least the ghettos in the city always looked lively. This place was something that was dead if compared to what he was used to. Finding the way west was easy after a few minutes of walking he comes up to a sight of a large man busy painting a painting. Not a very good painting from what Laindir could gather. Deciding it was best not to sneak up on the man he decided to call out to him.
"Hey, are you Bhakti?"

Bhakti : Not... the result I was looking for, was my first thought when I looked at the canvas, exiting my almost meditation state of painting. But if this was how I perceived this landscape in my state of mind, then that's how it is. I neither sign it nor put my credentials on it, as I have never done with any work before, and just as I'm about to put it against a wall to dry, a voice interrupts me from behind, asking if I'm me. Of course I am.
"I am. What do you need me for?" I ask softly, turning around to find a rather scrawny elf. Respectable, but not one of stature.

(Laindir: also besides being huge, can you give a general description of what you look like, I am currently wearing traveller's clothes rather than armor, but my longsword and mace are visible to you
Bhakti : Uh, 10 feet (305CM) tall brown dude decked on in chainmail over a traveler's outfitm with a sword on my back and earthshaker on my waist)

Laindir: The innkeeper didn't lie, the man really was a giant now that Laindir had the opportunity to have a good look. Though his menace was severely lessened to the almost comical image of such a giant being busy painting. "I heard you were interested in going to the west, it so happens that I am also interested in a trip there. So I thought that perhaps we could join forces, if we have roughly the same interests there."

Bhakti: "I wouldn't be against it. I don't have anything particularly against or towards this place, and I certainly wouldn't mind company. Can you fight, though? The west isn't exactly safe, as far as I know."

Laindir: "While I don't like my chances with you big guy, I can hold my own in a fight" Laindir draws his longsword and swings it around a couple of times in the style of swordmanship he was trained in(it looks almost like he is dancing). "But first off I want to inquire why are you interested in going west?"

(Laindir: Should I do somekind of roll for how well I do my sword thingy?
Bhakti : just roll your attack i guess?
GM: If you're showing off yeah I guess it would be attack. There are classes with special features for it, but that would be the basic.
Laindir: yeah, I am kind of showing off, with the intention to show I know something.
1d20+2 = 5
Bhakti: LOL
Laindir: It begins.
GM: It is not overly successful, though you don't drop the sword at least.
Laindir: Take it that I am acting as if I did a brilliant job of it.
GM: His grip makes it clear that Laindir has held a sword before, but his movements are messy.)

Bhakti : His swings are... iffy. Maybe he works better under pressure? I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. "I guess you're not... too bad. Workable. But you're the one asking the questions, so I won't beat around the bush. You see, I want to go to the west, well, to see what the west looks like."
Laindir: "So...you're just curious? You could say our intentions coincide then, though it would be more precise to say that I am searching for something in the west. I would welcome the company."
Laindir keeps to his thoughts; 'And it's not like the muscle won't come in handy for protection.'.
Bhakti : "Just curious is probably the best way to describe it, yes. So long as you don't mind me wanting to see and paint the landscapes in our way, there should be no problem. I'd shake with you on it, but I'm not sure if your hand could handle that."
Laindir: "I can appreciate art when I see it." Laindir said with a grin offering his hand to the Bhakti "Don't worry, I trust you not to break it."
Bhakti : "Very well then. Let us hope our path is not paved in hardships. Your name, friend?" I say, as I take his tiny hand in a handshake that leads to me covering nearly a third of his arm with my hand.
Laindir: It feels like he could pick up and carry Laindir with a single arm, Laindir might have underestimated exactly how strong his new friend was. "Laindir, pleased to meet you." He says in a slightly shaky voice.
Bhakti : "Oh, sorry. Handshakes were never my strong suit."
Laindir: "No problem, I am sure they will come handy in our travels to the west. So when would you be interested in leaving, I am already all packed since that is the reason I came here."
Bhakti : "I should at least inform the guardpost that I'm not staying around any longer, so that might take a bit. I don't have much of an inventory, just the stuff I have in the bag by the wall. I want to let this canvas dry, as well."
Laindir: "So would tomorrow morning be appropriate?"
Bhakti : "I can leave today probably, if you do not mind travelling during the night. Just let me dig this landscape into my mind." I say as I lounge back, resting my head against my arms up against the wall, next to my canvas.
Laindir: "I'll wait for you at the local watering hole, I am sure you know of it, the innkeeper's a big man, kinda rude.

Laindir returns to the inn, Bhakti proceeds to the guardpost to announce his departure.

End Scene