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"How 'bou' a song of Sarenrae's hot?", Noa suggests. "I'ma build a fire..."
"I'll help with the fire, but let's find a good place first." Donning his own cold-weather gear, Dasiji looks for a likely campsite. Some place where they can pitch all their tents with a campfire in the middle, sheltered at least somewhat from the wind -- a small clearing in a grove of trees, a big cave, anything like that.
In his search of the immediate area, Dasiji finds a large covered Wagon, half burred in the snow. Looks to be a somewhat more sturdy shelter than the tents, as it's big enough to make small fire inside it. Once's its been cleaned out of a few boxed and frozen bodies, of course.
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Baru steps forward, hugging the animal furs tight around him, "We should probably try to figure out what did these poor souls in. I'm willing to concede their passing is due to the weather, but if something more sinister is stalking these mountains, I'd rather we know now than tonight." He adjusts the position of his sword for easier access around his heavy garments. Approaching cautiously, he begins to examine the area for signs of danger - either past or present.
It looks like a wheel or two have broken, and whatever beasts where pulling it are no where to be found. There are no obvious wounds on the bodies, so the weather is a likely culprit.
Digging through the frozen rocks this high in the mountains would take a very long time.
After cleaning out the wagon you find a wood burning stove. Lighting it up provides some extra warmth against the night. Dasiji uses his survival skills to patch up a few holes in the wagon to keep out the drafts. With the furs and cold weather outfits, you all fair the night fairly well. (Despite some incidental spooning that will not be discussed. What happened in the wagon stays in the wagon.)
The next day dawns clear and cold. You quickly pack up and get traveling again, more to get your blood flowing than anything else.
Nester speaks up, You know, frozen trail rations would not have been my first choice for breakfast...
After a bit of travel, you spot a glint of something to the left of the path. As you approach, you see a shrine of some kind, simply constructed, with a glass bowl that holds gold and gem offerings.
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Consulting her treasured Pathfinder Chronicle, Aesantiel considers the roadside shrine thoroughly. She laments that she has not yet had an opportunity to gain training in the history of the wider world. If anyone else appears intrigued, and potentially knowledgeable, she will offer to share her reference work.
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Dasiji walks on by the shrine with hardly more than a glance; he has no idea what it means, but he trusts the locals to know their own history, and trusts his knowledge of human nature even more: the gold and gems would've been taken long ago, unless it would anger a god or something. But then some of the others stop, seeming curious, so he considers how to get them moving again. His eyes land on the aasimar. "Say, Kassandra, singers learn lots of random things through songs. Does a shrine in the mountains of Kortos remind you of anything?"
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"Alrigh', then", Noa says, digging out a ritual three gold coins from among her draped and layered scarves and furs and wintery wraps. "Because he's no' a kobol'... Spiri' honore' here, Who ar', to we poor mortals, mean' to remain a mys'rey. Accep' this offerin', given in caution and confusion, and in the hope your servan's in this world migh', You know, hang a sign or somethin'."
Noa puts the three coins in the bowl, in a ritual three measures.
"Tha' Your Name <clink> and Your Purpose <clink> become clearer." <clink>
Ah! This small statue here is of the Lady Kayle. She was a Taldan adventurer who sacrificed herself so her comrades could defeat the great dragon Maejerex, who terrorized the Isle of Kortos until 4592 AR. This shrine was erected here on the site of her sacrifice to honor her, and her actions that saved many. It's a shame that she is all but forgotten now.
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Dasiji has nearly convinced his comrades to accept the mystery and move on, when the half-elf (and whole know-it-all) just had to pipe up with his book learnin'. The genial Mwangi keeps his face impassive while imagining slapping his forehead, but he can't help exhaling through his nose with just a tad more force than usual. "I will help you with your sign." Anything to get us moving again.
What, you think I have reason to keep something from you? Please!
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What, you think I have reason to keep something from you? Please!
"Wha' I think? Wha' I think? I think wha' I always think, tha' you ge' wha' you ask for, and when is given, i's no' usually all. Bu' tha's no' so much impor'an', now..." Noa turns from the incipient signage, and levels her gaze, a mask of caution, at Nestor. "I di'n' say keep somethin'. You sai', keep somethin'. Wha' you keepin'? 'Cause I'm gon' watch you, now." Noa gives Nestor a Caravari sign of vigilance, forked fingers pointed to her own eyes, and then at him.
Speaking next to the shrine itself, Noa says, "Is tha' why you glin' at us? So he can say too li'l, too much? I go' him, now. Thank you."
Noa repeats her handsign at Nestor, and returns to the sign-making.
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As Noa continues her sign, Aesantiel pulls out her Journal, and makes some notes. She spends a few moments in contemplation at the shrine, then thanks Nestor for the rememberance. "Such deeds and sacrifice deserve commemoration. We should not forget."
To herself, she notes the tokens and sacrifices left by the others, 'But what benefit does that garner? It is something to note of the behavior of these outlanders, but how odd..'
Noa posts her sign and the party moves on through and out of the mountains. The land gives way to a thick Swamp. Thick blobs of fog dance in between large tickets as the foul stench of swamp gas pollutes the air. Several exotic species of vines twist along the vapor-shrouded path, creating an ethereal seeming tangle. At random intervals, a splash of fetid water sounds in the distance, signaling the presence of frogs or other bog creatures. You end up digging the card out of the bog several times as you swat mosquitoes from your flesh.
For your honoring of the shrine, you gain Kayle's Blessing. Up to three times you are granted a +1 luck bonus to saves against a Dragon's breath weapon.
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As they descend, Dasiji takes off his cold weather gear and stows it. In the swamp, his nose wrinkles with distate. "This reminds me of when I was assigned to patrol and watch the jungle for the Sargavan Guard. We need to be careful; places like this favor the stealthy." Experienced beyond his years, the young Mwangi looks around warily.
You come upon a large log that rests across a dirt path, standing five feet tall. A moldering wood door covers one of the hollow ends of the log, and a makeshift mud chimney emits a thin wisp of blue smoke. From behind the crude house come the sound of someone humming an off-key tune.
An old Kobold peaks over the log as you approach and cries out.
You will not harm my children. Snapjaw, get them!
Aesantiel,
Baru,
Dasiji,
Irenal,
Kass,
Noa,
Bogmother,
Snapjaw,
Round 1
Irenal
Snapjaw
Kass
Dasiji
Bogmother
Noa
Aesantiel
Baru
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Having not intended to slow their travels down with his curiosity about the shrine, Baru sighs as Noamuth brings everyone to a halt and begins crafting a rudimentary sign for the locale. The impatience turns to mild annoyance as she begins fussing about Nestor. Only his appreciation for Aesantiel's diligent note taking keeps him silent and respectful.
As the group is readying to resume their journey, Baru withdraws a single gold coin from beneath his furs and drops it in the bowl. "You are gone, but you will not be forgotten," he utters quietly.
As the temperatures rise once again, the teifling stuffs the furs in his pack. He treads carefully, not wanting to become stuck in the fetid marsh along with their wagon. "I'm not sure if I like this any better or worse than those mountains," he remarks, nodding back in the direction from which they came.
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Round 1
Dasiji doesn't understand a word of what the old kobold says, and doesn't care. He's killed a kobold without a second thought before -- but that was in a dangerous ruin, where he'd begun to assume that everything they met was out to kill him. Today, he isn't here to murder someone in their home, when they haven't even hurt anyone (as far as he knows).
Far out of his element, the man from central Garund is accustomed to using gestures and posture to help make himself understood. He holds up a hand to the kobold, palm out, arm straight. "Oy!" He turns back to the others and makes a twirling motion with his forefinger pointing down, then points away from the log house. "Let's go around. If they don't attack, then that's one less delay."
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Irenal disrobes with the rest of the party as they descend to warmer climates. The kobolds speech resonates clearly in his ears as they near.
"It's called to something else. Something named Snapjaw. The kobold's intentions seem less than desirable. "
His hands press together and he says a few words of infernal behind them. His eyes rain alert for any assault.
Snapjaw does something.
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As an aside, Dasiji adds, "You're laying it on a bit thick Kass, don't you think? It *is* a kobold." He moves forward cautiously; as usual while they travel, the well-equipped ranger holds his fancy new darkwood bow, prepared to shoot anything that attacks them.
The Kobold does not seem to heed your words and casts Entangle, centered on Dasiji's current location.
Reflex Saves
Aesantiel,
Baru,
Dasiji,
Irenal,
Kass,
Noa,
Everyone is Entangled, except Dasiji.
Dasiji and Noa fire at the Kobold behind the tree. Dasiji pegs her in the side of the head, but Noa's arrow ricochets off a large branch and into the swamp beyond.
Snapjaw shambles out of the bog an on to the path, stopping before the Entangled area. He is a large, grey Crocodile, with great pointy teeth! He seems ready to snap at anyone who comes close.