Although the city of Nantambu is hot, the interior of Sharrowsmith’s Exports is cool and dim. Aya Allahe gestures to a sideboard of iced
drinks and jungle fruits as she settles in behind her tidy desk.
“Please, refresh yourselves, for I’m about to ask you to journey far from the comforts of civilization.” The only other person in the
room is a half-elf named Fola Barun, who has curly hair and dark skin painted with delicate designs. Fola stands behind a massive
oak table, meticulously adding details to a half-finished map.
Allahe’s brow wrinkles over her golden eyes, hinting at her worry. “North of Bloodcove is the mountainous Terwa Uplands
and a scarp called Azlant Ridge. For more than six years, Pathfinder archeologists at Azlant Ridge have been excavating
an Azlanti outpost of vital historical significance; it’s perhaps the only Azlanti outpost on the Mwangi coast.”
Allahe pauses. “Fola, you mentioned to me before that you wanted to learn how Pathfinder agents begin a
mission. Why don’t you hold off on that map for a few minutes and listen?” The half-elf carefully sets
her cartography aside and strides over behind the desk. Allahe nods approvingly and continues, “My
good friend, Juliet Dias, leads the expedition at Azlant Ridge. During their first year, the
expedition was beset by a horde of ape-men, but was saved by the timely intervention of
a group of Pathfinder agents. The site has been mostly quiet ever since—Juliet provides
monthly reports. Archeology is a slow and careful science, as Juliet is keen
to remind me. Not all Pathfinders are reckless thrill-seekers.” Allahe
flashes a conspiratorial smile.
Fola Barun speaks up. “Juliet Dias’s monthly correspondence
is a week overdue. Her last missive described a strange light
emanating from somewhere deeper in the Terwa Uplands, and her intense
curiosity about it.” She slides a folded letter across the desk.
Aya adds, “I fear for my friend. Go to Azlant Ridge and seek out Juliet Dias. If she has met danger, please assist her. If my
fears prove true, and Juliet is injured or worse, please ensure that the Pathfinder archeologists under her supervision are safe and
continuing their valuable work, and then bring Juliet back to me.
I have a riverboat to Bloodcove ready to depart, and I’ll provide you directions from Bloodcove to Azlant Ridge. Although I ask
that you hurry, it is important that you ask whatever questions you may have before departing.”
Several millennia ago, the western Mwangi expanse was a contested battleground between the declining serpentfolk empire and the cyclopes of Ghol-Gan. Although the Azlanti were not generally allies of Ghol-Gan, they had the insidious serpentfolk as a common enemy.
The Ghol-Gan cyclopes were renowned astronomers and worshiped celestial bodies.
If the Azlant Ridge site is indeed 10,000 years old, as believed, then it would have been established just as the Ghol-Gan empire was slipping into its own decline, exhausted after long centuries of fighting the serpentfolk. The cyclopes would likely have welcomed Azlanti aid against their old enemies.
Aya replies the hunters questions:"“Unfortunately, yes. The Aspis Consortium is in control of Bloodcove, the closest settlement to Azlant
Ridge, so they might be involved. Keep a watchful eye for their meddling.”
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I never though I'll be back in Mwangi. thinks Guinfa as he crosses Nantambu for the meeting. It haven't change at all
In the meeting, after hearing the problem at hand and the question of Huni he adds. Especially something related with that "strange light". It can be a coincidence the dissapearence of your friend to have happened shortly after it appeared, but it can also be related
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Tinker Boneshaker listened to the briefing taking notes in small battered journal before speaking up. "Let me make sure that I have the mission parameters correct. One, head to Azlant Ridge to locate Juliet Dais and make sure she is safe. Two, assist as needed to make sure that the archeologists complete their mission. Three, bring her safely home. About how many people are with the dig?" he asked.
The Kitsune gave a brief description of the history of the area and the Ghol-Gan cyclops to the group.
A fat man steps in. "Am I to late. Don´t think so. Mavaro the great! Well met!"
Fola replies "Well you got the gist of it. Juliet Dias has over 20 archeologists and workers under her command." She will hand over a handout. And as the riverboat is rady you only have little time but one hour should be fine.
The journey through Bloodcove and into the Terwa Uplands proceeds without incident, and the adventure begins when you reach Azlant Ridge.
This ancient site is badly damaged from numerous violent incidents.
A series of thin switchback trails climb ever higher out of the jungle. Near the top, a dilapidated camp comes into view. The camp is surrounded by a wooden palisade wall forming a semicircle that both starts and ends at an imposing cliff face looming hundreds of feet above the camp. A gatehouse towers over the palisade, guarding a wooden gate. Near this gate is a large gap of splintered wood, as though some enormous creature recently smashed its way through the wall.
Mavaro moves in and speaks to the first person he sees.
"Yo mate. Where is your boss Juliet Dias? We are supposed to meet her?"
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As nobody seems eager to offer himself to prtect the rest of the group, Guinfa applies Meek Facade on himself everyday and haves ready her whip during the travel.
Once near the camp, and after haring Maravo and Huni, he join the conversation And how are you going to discern that from sight, Huni?
Let's go to gatehouse and talk to them. That will help us to discern if they are friends or foes.
A nervous looking you man, introduces himself als Vadlin Whent hails you as you get closer.
"What is your Business in this camp?"
A nervous looking you man, introduces himself als Vadlin Whent hails you as you get closer.
"What is your Business in this camp?" The voice seems to come from Euron.
The young man waves to the door.
"Excellent, excellent. We can need some help. She should be in the south, in the area of the many small tents!"
As you move forward you can see the Expedition camp:
Expedition Camp
Two large but sagging tents stand here—one is used for cooking, and the other serves as a mess hall. Between them are 10 canvas tents that the workers and archeologists share. The belongings in most tents have
been neatly packed. Only one tent seems to belong to only one person.
You see a red-haired, round-faced man, introducing himself as Happ Voltz directs 6 others to pack the unused tents to evacuate the site.
He wipes his brow with a hanky and looks up.
"What can I do for you, M´lords?"
Looking around Maravo checks for any magical auras.
The man replies."Well the attack was wee days before. So far all is quite. Maybe to quite. But I take what I get."
Mavaro does notice some huge magical aura from the west.
Offering some chairs and some refreshment, happs starts to explain you a few things.
"Well, first of all Azlant Ridge is, fundamentally, an arms repository. The ivory sphere is a defense mechanism of some sort, and it’s somehow connected to the Azlanti monoliths—cold iron golems stored within the cliff as powerful weapons.
Six years ago, a howling horde of ape-men descended upon the camp, led by an enormous four-armed
gorilla. An Azlanti monolith activated to defeat the gorilla champion and drive off the horde, thanks to
the timely intervention of a team of Pathfinders. Since then, the camp has had only sporadic trouble with the
local ape-men. So far so well
A few weeks ago, a steady white light appeared in the Terwa Uplands. Juliet Dias and six archeologists went
to investigate. Although the light appeared to be only a day away or so, no one has returned. Me and my crew focused our research on the ivory sphere, and learned that its glow doesn’t just indicate danger—it indicates powerful
fiendish activity. When a fiend is near, the sphere activates an Azlanti monolith to seek and destroy the
fiend. The remaining workers became much more concerned about Dias’s welfare upon learning this, but didn’t feel qualified to trek across the Terwa Uplands themselves. Two days ago, another Azlanti monolith activated,
smashed its way through the camp, and it killed Sam, Georgy-boy, Happy Harry and some moreworkers and guards in its way, and plodded off toward the distant light. Well we are convinced that Juliet Dias and her crew must already be dead and that some formidable fiend is most certainly active in the area,so some of the local help immediately fled back to Bloodcove."
He takes a deep drink, but before you can ask something, there is a holler of monkey shrieks.
Please roll ini!
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Nat has been quiet on the journey, spending most of her time with her boar, Squealy Nord. She's spent the time scouting out their route and hunting for game to keep the pathfinders fed. Now, however, she hears the monkey shrieks and prepares herself for battle.
Nat looks around for danger and shouts a command to Squealy in elvish.
The two Badboys come closer.
Pathfinders are up
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Nat moves out in the direction of the sounds, drawing her sling and preparing a bullet as she does so.
Not seeing anything, Nat prepares to send a bullet flying at anything hostile that comes within 30 feet. "అక్కడ వెళ్ళి, రక్షించండి!" she calls out in Elvish to her boar, pointing to a place in front of her among the tents.
Squealy Nord moves in front of his halfling, and is ready to attack any foe that seems to be moving to attack her.
Mavaro prepares to attack the apemen if they come closer!
The apeman come closer. The first is getting to close to Mavaro and is nearly killed. But with a shriek he attacks.
The other comes closer but just falls down as Guinfa trips him.
Pathfinders are up!
Bad I -14; Bad II -16, tripped
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Guinfa focus on the apemen who looks more able to fight. You come here to pillage and found the site better defended than you thoug, didn`t you? He laughs of them before specify his threats You want to continue alive? Surrender.
Or continue fighting and I'll make the same offer to your friend. The deccision is on you he lasty adds, sounding like he really doesn't mind who surrenders and who dies.
Mavaro attacks again.
Under the combined attacks the two apemen die.
The baboons that joined with them see them die and run in panic.
Happ thanks you with all his heart and offers you a satchel, that was still in Juliet Dias’s tent. It has an unfinished report, detailed notes on the direction of the light (they will grant you a bonus to follow her tracks, also a pair of lenses.
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Guinfa checks the dead bodies to be sure they're really dead and if they carry something interesting. That's how we are going to do the things? Kill them and ask later?
Don't get me wrong, I can do that way too, but I'll prefer to know it beforehand so I doesn't waste efforts trying to convince them
After having complained a little, Guinfa checks the satchel and seeing the notes he asks if someone has good survival skills.
Are you ready to continue?
Mavaro is ready.