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“Ah, Falroun, these are the agents I was telling you about,” Ambrus Valsin says.
“Pathfinders, welcome! May I introduce Count Falroun Matsanda of Alkenstar.” He gestures across his desk to a tall Garundi man with short black hair and gold- rimmed spectacles.
Valsin’s guest stands and offers his hand in greeting as he speaks. “It is a true pleasure to meet you. I have purchased several antiquities from your Society in the past, and I have always wondered about the people who acquire such treasures. I must say, you do not disappoint!”
Valsin smiles at the compliment before continuing, “Agents, your next mission will take you to the island of Jalmeray. We’ve received reports that the ruins of a previously unknown temple have been found in a part of the Segang Jungle known as the Urapangi Lowlands. From its location, I think this temple could be one of those abandoned by the legendary Maharaja Khiben- Sald when he left Jalmeray over four thousand years ago. A temple untouched since Khiben-Sald’s time would be a major find for the Society. Of course, getting to Jalmeray on such short notice poses some difficulties.”
“I believe that’s where I come in,” the count interjects. “I’m arranging a hunting expedition to Jalmeray for myself and my new father-in-law, Baron Bomande Rudyahm. Bomande was quite the sportsman in his day. However, some years ago he was wounded during a tiger hunt in the Segang Jungle. He’s been grumbling about getting revenge on the beast for so long that I thought taking him on a trip back to Segang might earn me some credit with the old man.”
Ambrus Valsin continues: “Falroun has graciously offered to provide transport to and from Jalmeray and to outfit us with everything we need for our journey into the jungle. In exchange, you’re going to help his father-in-law, the baron, with this tiger hunt and make sure he gets the better of the beast this time around, as it were. You’ll have time to discuss the details of the hunt during your voyage to Jalmeray.”
“A voyage for which I must make some final arrangements,” adds Falroun, [b “I’m afraid I must depart. Once again, it is a pleasure to meet you. I look forward to our journey together.”[/b] With a nod, he exits the room. As the count’s footsteps recede down the hall, Ambrus Valsin’s smile fades from his face. “Ordinarily, the Society would cover the costs of an expedition like this. However, our resources are stretched thin at the moment thanks to our campaigns in Varisia and the Worldwound. Until such time as those ventures pay off, we’re going to have to rely on people like Count Matsanda to cover some of our operating expenses. I’m trusting you with the Society’s reputation on this mission. Fulfill our end of this bargain by helping the baron bag his tiger, and try to make nice with at least one of these nobles. Now, unless you have any questions about this temple, go get your affairs in order. Your ship sails in the morning.”
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Svetlana listens quite passively, and makes all smiles and pleasantries towards the Baron.
Once he's gone she gets back to business "What are we expecting this time? Last time we went down some dirty oldhole it was crawling with undead, what were this lot into? Necromancy? Demon fancying? What do we know about these three thousand year old people"
"Oh and do we have a tracker or is this place easy enough to locate?"
Diplomacy (gather Info)
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"Hopefully, we will have enough time to check out this rare temple, not only baby-sitting old hunter", said a strange man with green-scaled skin.
"My name is Rasamoro and I am more about research, than about hunting", he smiled, "but due to some events I need to leave Magnimar and travel around the world."
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The Keleshite is in his late twenties, wearing loose clothing typical of Qadiran origin and a metallic armor covering his chest. A turban covers his head, revealing his piercing blue eyes, aquiline nose and greasy short beard. His face has already known too many hardships, as his many scars testify. He is quite muscular and has the strong hands of one who has worked since the earliest days of his childhood. A tall, shafted weapon called a fauchard rests next to him, the blade bearing many engravings and arabesque dedicated to the Dawnflower.
When one of his companions shows up, he extends his hand and introduces himself. "Well met, I am Jhalan Aajav, blade of the Dawnflower and righter of wrongdoings. I understand we are to work together on this mission. I am glad of such travels to Jalmeray, for I have never been there. Tell me, is slavery still tolerated there?"
Ambrus valise provides some details “The temple is dedicated to one of the Vudran deities, certainly, but beyond that we don’t know. My contacts tell me the locals have
several superstitions about monkeys. If that represents some leftover remnants of the temple’s faith, it could be dedicated to one of the monkey-faced deities, Ragdya and Lahkgya, or to Chamidu, the goddess of wild animals.”
The count’s ship departs from Absalom on the morning after the briefing. Once aboard, Baron Bomande Rudyahm introduces himself, a handsome, dark-skinned Garundi gentleman of advancing years, with a thick black mustache and graying hair at his
temples. He walks with a prominent limp, and carries a finely crafted walking cane to help him amble about. Well met, a pleasure to meet you. May I use this occasion to invite you all for a diner this evening?
The dinner is a fine occasion, with both the baron and the count present. Baron Rudyahm asks has any of you ever been to Jalmeray before? while the counts seems interested in the recent adventures of the Pathfinders Tell me, your most recent mission, where did you go?
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"Not a oce to Jalmeray" Svetlana expands on her semi-recent exploits in Riddleport, and her enlistment with the Hellknights, but says nothing about her most recent adventure. She enquires more about Jalmeray, significant places, customs, people, and the like.
"Dinner sounds marvelous, what is the dress?"
The fact that Hellion is a Hellknight sits well with the Baron A hell knight, you say? What order?
I Myself have served in many conflicts. You must have heard about the war we waged against the Gorilla King Ruthazek? The battle were fierce and intense. At some point, the campaign had been going on for several months, me and my battalion were pinned down in a cave on the southwest of the island, where we spent several weeks behind enemy lines, picking off scouts as we went. We managed to pul through, on sheer grit and determination alone.
Count Falcon finally chimes in on the conversation at the dinner, and says to the Baron These gentlemen have agreed to support you in hunting the tiger.
Baron Rudyahm’s face grows stern as he recalls bygone events. “There were four of us on that trip, plus a half dozen porters or so. It was our seventh day in the bush. We’d had a bad day hunting on the trail, so we split off to the west to follow a little stream deeper into the jungle. The tiger came for us that night, despite our campfires. He must have been young to be so bold. I never saw most of the carnage. All I could hear were screams, gunshots, and men begging for help in the darkness.
“With the gun smoke and the darkness, I could barely see the end of my musket. Something took a right nasty bite out of my leg, but I wheeled and unloaded my gun in its direction. I must have only clipped it, yet that was enough to startle the beast. The only glimpse I caught was its striped haunch and tail bleeding as it ran off into the darkness. I managed to limp my way out of the jungle on my one good leg, and that was the end of it. Ah, but we’re going to catch that stripey bastard this time, eh? We’ll give him what for this time around.”
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Seeing Marra take the lead on the conversation reciting more tales, and thinking that the undead pirates have now been mentioned, Svetlana chimes in on the act to help build the story.
Perform (Act)
"I an am Armiger of the Order of the Gate", she touches her brooch pin with a depiction of an infernal eye staring from a swirling portal "Our home is the Citadel Enferac in the Menador Mountains" she continues "After a series of missions against Derro I finally realised that my wayward ways were at an end and I had to do what I can to bring greater good - I had a calling if you will, and the best way to serve the light was to join the Hellknights". Paracountess Dralneen helped me find my way.
The Baron seems quite impressed, taking the stories at face value. Undead pirates and zombies rising from their grave. If that tiger decides to rise again, we'll know what to do with it.
The next morning, the first stop in the expedition is a hunting lodge, where Count Matsanda hires an elephant, a mahout (elephant driver), and a dozen porters. Though the elephant seems past its prime, it's the only one available, so Matsanda takes it anyway.
Hunters at the lodge corroborate the baron’s story about his previous expedition and report that several other hunting parties have also gone missing in that part of the jungle.
The Urapangi Lowlands are also known as “the monkey swamp,” and particularly devout Vudrani claim that the monkeys who reside there possess mystical powers.
Though Pathfinder Society agents have tried to keep the location of the Urapangi temple under wraps, rumor has it that several independent groups are currently planning their own expeditions to find the lost temple.
Count Matsanda and Baron Rudyahm ride in a howdah on the elephant’s back, accompanied by their mahout. The howdah is an elaborate wooden affair that can hold three occupants and one driver.
The Segang Jungle is a dense tropical forest. The deciduous trees that comprise it are green all year round thanks to the wet coastal climate. Right now, Jalmeray is at the height of its warmer season, and the air is hot and sticky under the jungle canopy.
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Jhalan is pleased to share whatever information he remembers.
"Hunters at the lodge corroborate the baron’s story about his previous expedition and report that several other hunting parties have also gone missing in that part of the jungle."
"Oh, and did you know about the Urapangi Lowlands? They are also known as “the monkey swamp,” and particularly devout Vudrani claim that the monkeys who reside there possess mystical powers."
"Moreover, though our agents have tried to keep the location of the Urapangi temple under wraps, rumor has it that several independent groups are currently planning their own expeditions to find the lost temple. We may have some competition."
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Marra learns the same through chats with the local lodge hunters. "Mystical monkeys could just be jungle legend, but we have seen stranger things. looks like there is room for one more to ride in the howdah, I would suggest someone with ranged weapons or spells. For me I'll stick travelling by foot."
Keeping her eyes open for trouble as the group moves through the jungle, the halfling ask out of curiosity "So Baron Rudyahm, when we find a tiger or it us how will you know if it's the same one that attacked you years ago?"
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Nagaji was totally out of place during social party. He tried to follow conversation, but he lacked experience, he told a short story about himself. He was born in Tian Xia, but travelled with his parents into Westcrown soon after. He spend some time, before his father decided to pursue a specific opportunity in Kaer Maga and they moved there. Rasamoro was learning arcana magic as well swordplay. Basically, he was not great in both, but he was willing to travel and as soon as he found an opportunity to join Pathfinder Society he did that.
"Vudrani magic rumoured to have different structure, than usually expected in Avistan." This remark cost him a curious look, so basically he stopped after that.
Tigers are territorial. If we find our way back to its hunting grounds, there’s a good chance we’ll run across it before too long. Trust me, I'll recognise it when I see it.
On the first day of the safari, there is very little wildlife to be seen. {b]This close to the lodge, animals are skittish[/b] the baron explains, the real trophies can be found deeper in the jungle. At the end of the first day the hunting party sets up camp in a clearing atop a low rise. The night passes uneventfully.
Early in the morning, there's a loud crashing sound! From the sound of it, it cam from the count's tent.
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Castien, never the most outgoing individual, is even more aloof during the journey, hardly opening his mouth but to put food or drink in it, or mouthing the words to spells he recently added to his spellbook.
Hearing the crashing sounds, Castien grabs his bow and rushes with the others to their source.
The interior of the count's spacious canvas tent is richly decorated with portable darkwood and silver furnishings. Torn mosquito netting hangs above the bed, and a mirror, basin, and various shaving implements lie scattered on the ground. A black leather boot lies on the floor next to the crumpled remains of a large black spider.
What the devil is going on here, the baron asks as he enters the tent just before the party. The party sees Count Matsanda lying on the bed clutching his bare right foot, in pain.
The count replies in a fearful voice, “Something in my boot bit me—a spider I think. I fell back onto the bed in surprise. My god, Bomande, what if it’s poisonous? I could lose the foot! You brought some antitoxin, didn’t you? Fetch it quickly!” Unfazed, the baron replies, “Ah, bit of luck then. The spiders of Segang aren’t dangerous, not like the scorpions. It’ll probably smart for a bit, that’s all. Next time, check your damn boots!”
Are you absolutely certain, this is no trifling matter! the count replies. It would be safer if I took the antitoxin anyway.. The conversation quite quickly escalates into a heated argument. Bothteh count and the baron plead to adventurers.
You should convince him to give me the antitoxin, I'm sure he haw some, he's trying to hold it back from me. the counts says, as the baron confides I have some antitoxin in my personal supplies, but I'm not going to waste it on such a malignerer.
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Sense Motive -
Svetlana hasn't got the measure of either of the men to determine who is who an what is what, but decides a diplomatic response is called for until she knows.
Her eyes flash red for a moment and she examines the wound.
Svetlana smiles at the Baron warmly, all shiny white teeth and big doe eyes, "I also have some antitoxins, medicines, and cure alls., Although the Count seems well enough for now I will stay here and examine him periodically until morning... should his condition change, I will administer the correct curative"
"I also have some vermin repellent should we encounter more creepy crawlies"
Diplomacy
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Marra takes a look at the wound and the dead spider "I have some training in healing"
-Posted with Wayfinder
Seriously? the baron exclaims. You're going to tend to him as if he's suffered some deadly wound? I have seen men fall in battle, claimed by horrible diseases, poisoned by toxins that act faster than the eye can blink. I tell you: this man is in no danger. None!
Foolishness, I tell you. the baron says as he moves out of the room. The count, however, is pleased at the proper care is he getting, and though Marra cannot say - for certain - that the wound is harmless, the count already seems to calm down as he spots the wound not getting any worse.
Soon after, as the count has a moment alone with the adventurers, he asks for advice. “I’d really like to impress the old man today, but you see, I’m not much of a hunter,” he admits. “In fact, I’ve never really been hunting before! Is there any help or advice you can give me?”
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"To be frank, the best way to impress is to avoid getting yourself in unimpressive dangers - stay back, stay out of trouble, be quiet, and be helpful. You don't need to swing swords and shoot bows to be a good accompaniment - be the man who is always on the ball ready to supply arrows or hand over a sharpened sword, keep your ears open and ask questions you might have - men like talking, and especially about themselves, indulge it"
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Adrianna spots the baron storming out of the tent and moves to join him. "I stayed out here to make sure nothing snuck up on us. What happened in there?" she asks. As the baron undoubtedly rages on about the foolishness of the count and his pampering, Adrianna will merely listen and nod at the appropriate time, neither agreeing nor disagreeing but seeming attentive and respectful of the man throughout. I
"My partners were wise to follow your advice and not use valued supplies unnecessarily, and wiser for staying to ensure no other harm comes from this unfortunate event. We are fortunate to have your sage advice and wisdom in these hostile lands." She finally says, hoping to determine his level of annoyance or hostility.
The camp breaks up, and the group sets out into the jungle for a first round of hunting, all eyes fixed to the count to see whether he can score some big kill. He seems rather unexperienced at the whole thing.
The group moves on the hunt, chasing wildlife.
The pointers that Castien provided proved to be invaluable, as the young count managed to bag a magnificent sloth bear. Proud as the count is over his kill, he is also grateful.
Castien has his own story when it comes to that sloth bear the count racked up. Only moment before the count took it out, Castien was face to face with the bear, unleashed an arrow, and only narrowly missed it, giving the count the opportunity to score the killing blow.
On the morning of the hunt’s third day, the smell of wood smoke fills the camp as porters busy themselves tending various cooking fires. Outside the camp, the jungle is alive with the sounds of monkeys, birds, and chirping insects. The porters skin, butcher and cook the catch of the day: soon the party will know what sloth bear tastes like.
The smell of food also draws the attention of other guests. A band of macaques monkeys gather at the edge of the camp. The porters seem to regard these monkey with some reverence, one of them even starts offering a prayer, along with a small offering of food and water, while the wild creatures overturn containers, steal small trinkets, and raid unguarded supplies.
Baron Rudyahm, however, is gruff: Bah, monkeys. I fought too many char-ka to trust these prancing creatures. Stupid pests, that's what they are!
They must disperse, get rid off them!
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"I'll try to, sir".
Rasamoro took his walking cane in his hands and started to walk towards monkeys.
"Kich", he whispered quietly, and then again.
"Kich", with raising volume and pitch.
"Kitch", his voice become stronger. He looked monkey right to the eyes.
"Kitsh". He stomped suddenly, opening sharp sword hidden in a cane.
"Run away!" He followed his actions, barking simple order, scaring all creatures staring at him.
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While on the hunt Marra carries her loaded crossbow, but doesn't shoot at any thing that is not a threat to the hunting party.
Later when the camp is overrun with wild monkeys, the halfling not wanting to harm the curious creatures not offend the porters uses her orison spells.
First using Prestidigitation she flavors a bit of bread to smell like bananas and honey and Mage hand to hold the bread just out of reach tries to lead the monkeys back into the jungle.
Second If they need a more encouragement, she creates four dancing ball of lights which look like will-o'-wisps and has them slowly drift towards the most troublesome monkeys. If the monkeys try to catch or touch the balls of light she has them dodge into the jungle.